#and love for my friend who lent me her copy.

[queenbee2o3]

just finished the seven husbands of evelyn hugo and it destroyed me. it made me so unbelievably happy. it tore my heart out. it gave me a gentle hug. i am filled with a pleasant hopelessness and bittersweet hope. and peace.

[tarot-archives]

Can I get a uhhhhhh laios with a guy/gn reader who has an equally autistic special interest in general biology and ecosystems that would 100% encompass monsters as well? Asking for a friend that just happens to be me (stg idk if I wanna smooch laios or be him tbh lmao)

an: though i haven’t written for an autistic yn, i’ll try to make it realistic. if i’d done something wrong, please tell me. i focused more on general dungeon ecology for y/n.

if marcille is studying about dungeon ecosystems while laios is more interested in monsters you would be the best of both worlds.

there’s just something thrilling about dungeon ecology, how it all interacts, every thing that fall under it and so on and so forth.

you’re a tall-man researcher, using every bit of your time to find out more about dungeons, and not just the ones in melini. it would have been good to join the magic academy, but since you don’t posses any talent for magic, you can’t enter.

it made you sad since they had a dungeon making class.

nevertheless, it won’t stomp your dreams of researching! you’ve read and copied countless of books you can get your hands on. eventually you settled in meleni where a newly discovered dungeon was found.

your room was filled with countless of journals, trinkets from dungeons and volumes of books you read many time before.

and on your first dungeon party, you were very ecstatic. too bad you had to leave because they’d only go to the easier upper floors. you wanted to head to the lowest level after all!

and that’s where you meet up with the touden party!

you will love marcille’s vast dungeon knowledge. she would love to teach you new things. much to chilchuck’s dismay, you have boosted her ego. endless praises for marcille and simply doting around her because she’s filled with knowledge.

“ah, long lifespans are so great. i’d spend all my life dedicating to dungeon ecology if i could” -y/n after every lecture apparently.

then monster facts with laios will be endless. he lent you his dungeon food guide and you surprisingly have a copy too! you took notes from the things he had written in the margin. much to chilchuck’s demise (again) both you and laios keep on talking and he can’t sleep :((

“eating monsters? can’t say i have thought about it, but do you ever think about their nutritional values? the high level of mana concentration must vary from non-dungeon born same species! This needed to be compared and studied!” -y/n when laios introduced his monster eating thoughts.

toshiro will have another person to ask about his life in the east. but he likes how you keep more time to yourself writing in the journals. he finds your drawing to be artistic. after seeing your difficulties with papers, toshiro will teach you about yotsume toji—a book binding process from his country. he’s happy to see you using it after he taught you.

though you won’t talk with namari much, you admire he strength as a dwarf. she keeps her past to herself, which you at least respect. but you’d talk about the different weapons used and other things she did as a blacksmith. her knowledge on materials is very handy. you write about the different dungeon materials on your journal along with the best weapons against monsters.

chilchuck, our lock expert, and the most unknown member of your party… you admire his knowledge on traps and have written about his experiences with various dungeon traps and ways of disarming them.

falin, she joins you as you ask questions to marcille or laios. she listens to you talk about your dungeon experiences and she tells you about her’s. you let her read the journals you made along the way.

On the day falin was eaten by the dragon, your journal wasn’t transported with you. So now, you join laios to rescue his sister and to save you journals!!

Request? Open!

[queen-of-reptiles]

𝚂𝙰𝙽𝙳

description: In which chloe kelly's girlfriend is giving all she's got at the world championships of Athletics 2023 - especially after being so close to gold last year

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chloe kelly x female reader

disclaimer: this is all fiction! Do not take any of this seriously, i am in no way saying chloe is bi-sexual or gay!

warnings: language, cuteness, slightly suggestive

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y/n just posted

liked by, chloekelly, bun_bun10 and 1.3 million others

y/n Smiles and Sands :)

view all 389, 283 comments

username1: BODYYYYY 🔥🔥

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username2: 🫣🫣

username3: so excited to see you jump!!!!! 👏👏

username4: COME ON Y/N!! ❤️

username5: ❤️🔥

username6: will the author respect anyone who gets the reference of the post's caption??

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username7: yeah I think so ;))

chloekelly: babyyyyyy 😩

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y/n: my loveeeeee 😏

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chloekelly: killing me here! 😫😫

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y/n: get your ass to Budapest then! 😚

bun_bun10: Go y/n!! 🩵

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y/n: love ya! 🩵

lauren_hemp: wooooo! goooo y/n!!

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y/n: 🩵

username8: forgot how much the man city team love her lmao!

alexgreenwood5: 🩵🩵

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y/n: 🩵🩵

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twitter/X

username1: ITS SO FCKING CUTE - CHLOE AND HALF THE MAN CITY TEAM + ALL OF THE LIONESSES ARE IN BUDAPEST RN !!! 😭😭😭

username2: chloe's shirt of 'y/n's my girlfriend' 🥺🥺

username3: throwback to y/n wearing her shirt and screaming in the WWC crowd! 😂

username4: every time the camera zooms back in the crowd to the players the cheers and then the commentators trying not to laugh! 😂🥺

username5: y/n's first jump is up next - I'm so nervous for her!!

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y/n let out a sigh as she stared down the ramp, her lover was watching her with quiet breaths, barely feet apart as the rest of her friends and teammates quietened.

The stadium was silent for a moment, before y/n's hand's clapped, the audience copied and she did it again, and the stadium now boomed with rhythmic claps.

y/n's feet took off, her legs pounding against the track. She was 5ft 9, short for a long jumper, but she was quick, and light and as y/n's foot hit the board, she flung herself forward.

Her legs piked as she pushed her hips forward her body travelling as she was pushed down by gravity, landing on the sand below. She jolted as she landed but instantly stood up and rolled off.

She looked at the measurement, waiting for the green light of valid to appear, which it did. y/n shouted in happiness looking over to her coach who nodded as she moved over to wait for the measurement.

"7.17." The voice called.

y/n screamed in relief, hands flying to her head as she realises the record she had broken in her first jump, the British record. Her competitors all paled at the large first jump but patted her on the back none-the-less.

"Go on kid." The accent of Tara said as she patted the girl on the back and y/n grinned at her. "Got sick of coming second aye?" The American joked and y/n laughed.

y/n moved to the crowd, leaning into her lover who lent over the barrier and whispered words of calming encouragement in her ear as the rest queued up to jump.

Pats on y/n's back from Lauren, Georgia, Leah, and Keira echoed as she and Chloe pulled away. The blonde pressing a kiss to her lover's cheek.

"Jump harder." Lucy said as she and her close friend did their usual handshake.

"Always." y/n grinned as she went to take her seat and prepare for her second jump.

y/n's second jump was 7.15, her third, 7.16. None as good as her first and yet somehow, all still winning jumps. Tara and Ivana followed her into the top three, and at their last jump, the three were proud of what had been done.

SB and PB's had been set and Ivana was at 7.14 and massive jump for the young girl. y/n had to push, use up all she had. She started the clap once more.

She waited, then she threw her arms down, silence echoing the stadium as she then raced down the track, the sound of her foot hitting the board echoed and she leaped.

y/n hit the ground hard and rolled, her hips groaning as she covered herself in the sand, hoping praying as the green light lit up and she gingerly stumbled off the sand.

"7.30." The call ran out.

y/n's head snapped back, her body buckling as she tried to comprehend what had just happened. Screams echoed as Tara groaned aloud, knowing she nor Ivana were going to beat that.

Chloe screamed for her lover as y/n grinned at the crowd, shouting in what she knew was a sure victory. And after Tara had jumped and her gold was confirmed, y/n screamed once more.

The gold which had avoided her so long, which had always slipped from her grasp from a last ditch effort or harsh injury, finally she had it, she had the title which had evaded her. World Champion.

Chloe jumped the barrier, y/n grinning as she caught the blonde who wrapped her legs around her waist. y/n grinned up at her before the blonde lent down and pecked her lips.

"Proud of you." Chloe mumbled into her shoulder as y/n walked her back to the stands, her hands firmly on Chloe's thighs keeping the blonde wrapped in her.

"Couldn't have done it without you lovely." y/n promised her as she placed her back over the barrier. They pulled away and Chloe suddenly groaned.

"I'm covered in sand!" She protests and y/n chuckles as the blonde tries to shake it off, and shake it at a laughing Bunny who shrieks and scrambles away

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chloekelly just posted

liked by, bun_bun10, leahwilliamsonn and 654, 222 others

tagged y/n

chloekelly my baby's got a gold medal... what's yours got?

view 109, 236 comments

username1: they're so cute my heart! 🥺🥺

username2: the way she shouted in victory had me sobbing 😭

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username3: Chloe's face as well 😭

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username4: all of their faces

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username5: her falling to her knees - I CANT 😭😭

lucybronze: we are all very proud of her! 🩵

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chloekelly: that we are! 😭❤️

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y/n: ily both sm omg ❤️

stanwaygeorgia: I think I could do it tbf 🤷‍♀️

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y/n: I'll throw you that far stfu 🙄

bun_bun10: Chloe got me sandy :(

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chloekelly: ooops …

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username6: hahahahahahaha 😂

leahwilliamsonn: I don't get how your legs move like that tho 🧐🧐

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y/n: fold like a deckchair - like you when you had that ninth drink at Maisy's! 😝

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leahwilliamsonn: istg ! 🙄

lauren_hemp: WOOOOOOOO!

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y/n: WOOOOOOO

y/n: ily baby <3 sm

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chloekelly: ily more!

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lucybronze: 🤢🤢

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keirawalsh: LUCY!

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END

fun one on this one boysssssss

I used to b cracking at Long Jump cannae lie

-

queenie xox

[joannerenaud]

The Lady Serena review

I think, quite possibly, this was the first ever historical romance I’d ever read. Little did I know that it was written by Virginia Coffman— yes, THE Virginia Coffman, Gothic novelist extraordinaire, who was to become one of my favorite authors. In the late 1970s, under the pseudonym of Jeanne Duval, she wrote two historical novels set in ancient Rome, specifically against the reign of the Emperor Nero. I was so obsessed with this book, I read it over and over and over again. Years passed, and I lent it to a friend, who was much less enthused about it than I was. Then I read other negative reviews, and I began to think this book wasn’t so hot, and I was viewing it through rose-colored Nostalgia Goggles. Had the suck fairy come for Lady Serena?

Anyway, at last I decided to sit down and reread it. The back copy sells it as a lurid bodice-ripper about a Vestal Virgin, Serena, who has a forbidden romance with Tigellinus, Nero’s dark and sinister prefect of police. It definitely has bodice-ripper elements, but compared to many romances of the time, like The Flame and the Flower or The Wolf and the Dove, it is a masterpiece of subtlety and nuance.

Serena, a proud, practical aristocrat who’s taken vows as one of Vesta’s sacred priestesses, is increasingly tempted by Tigellinus’s masculine charms as she finds herself pulled into palace intrigue— specifically, she is called to tend to a sickly Emperor Claudius, who dies shortly after, from a surfeit of poisoned mushrooms or… possibly something else? Soon, she’s caught up in a shadowy conspiracy and a power struggle between the impulsive, lovable but erratic young emperor Nero, and his competent and frightening mother Agrippina. The depiction of these historical characters is so good, so assured and so accurate, and so free of the usual nonsense from Suetonius, it’s as if Coffman had actually met them. It’s impressive work.

The first half of the book has this languid, beautifully written atmospheric slow burn going on, which is very typical of Coffman— but the ending is exciting and cinematic, complete with battles at sea, riots, chariot chases and a gripping palace showdown. As for Tigellinus, the hero— he’s fine. He felt a bit undercharacterized— I felt that he and Serena needed a few more scenes together, but given how abysmally low the standards of romance heroes from the 1970s were, I didn’t mind him. The sex scenes are pretty short and not especially detailed, but that also seems pretty typical for the time. I did not especially buy the romance at first, but I felt much more convinced by the end, after the couple had been on the run together (which is always one of my favorite tropes).

As for Serena, at first I found her underwhelming, but I grew to like her a lot. She’s pretty naive at first, but over the course of the book she proves herself to be tough, clever, observant and in some respects, ruthless— she fends off two attempted rapists, and towards the end she coolly rescues herself from a particularly sticky situation in a way that had me pumping my fist into the air. I found her arc satisfying. She does have a lot of internal conflict, about betraying her religious vows for a relationship with a man; but she still loves and reveres Vesta. How can she reconcile these two parts of herself? The senior vestal priestess, Lady Maxima, plays a key part too: it’s great to see an older woman play a major part in a historical romance, and I loved seeing how her and Serena’s relationship developed. I thought it ended in a rewarding place— and I don’t want to spoil too much more! But yes, this aspect is definitely something I could not have appreciated as much as when I was a teenager.

The Lady Serena is also interesting in that it walks a fine line between historical-novel-with-romantic-elements and historical romance proper, which I liked. There’s a lot of Gothic elements too— misty temples, flickering torches, ominous villas and cabals of sinister senators abound— which I found to be a treat. This approach is so unusual for this setting. Also, the fact that the author is really affectionate towards Rome as a place and a culture really stands out, and the research is mostly well done.

As for the downsides, the writing is lovely, but there are some repetitive bits that could have been trimmed. Some of the plotting also can feel a bit redundant. For example, there’s two attacks (one on Serena, and another on Tigellinus) by two separate guys who lost all their money betting on some sports event and who became deranged as a result. Once is fine, I guess… but twice? Really? There’s also a few typical Roman tropes that came from old movies that have since been debunked, like galley slaves (not a thing until the early modern era), or people using chariots to travel from one place to another (they were only for races and ceremonial use, not for ordinary use). There’s also all the borked nomenclature, but that’s so typical of 90% of ancient Roman romance out there, that my eyes skim over it at this point.

Anyway, even with all that said, I love this book, and I recommend it! It’s an engrossing Gothic epic set in the ancient world with a cool and competent FMC, a respectable hero, a vibrant supporting cast of characters, and some incredible action. Sadly, there’s no ebook of this available, but paper copies abound, and the curious can find it on archive.org.

[flebus]

tag game! tag 9 people to get to know better

tagged by @postpunks (TY..... BWEH...)

last song: Watermelon Man - Herbie Hancock

favorite color: 🧡🧡🧡 mod orange 🧡🧡🧡

currently watching: AEW!!! i just recently started watching the company, so i'm catching up on arcs and PPVs that i have missed, slowly but surely lol

sweet, savory, or spicy: HMMM. spicy... i think...

relationship status: common-law dyke married to @butchicide xoxo 🥰... this October will be our 12 year anniversary!

last thing i googled: Gosling Baby (the canadian geese who live at the river near my house have babies rn i wanted more baby goose information... had simply googled 'gosling' first but that returned only pictures of Ryan Gosling. not what i want.)

current obsession: a friend lent me her copy of Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez, all my spare time this week has been spent reading. scary scary Argentinian supernatural horror, i'm really loving it.

ermm nobunny needs to do this but being tagged in stuff always makes me feel good so i pass the gift along to beloved mutuals -> @harlequinfrog @bloodrock-lobster @whatthewonder @rukafais @doritofalls @menderash @butchicide (:3c) @bugcadaver @squiddoodlebug @minteafresha (thats ten but who is counting truly)

[f10werfae]

Secret Sex Tape

pairing: Tom Holland x Mackie!Reader

-Requests are open/Likes, Comments and Re-blogs are appreciated♥️

(This is short but hopefully it’s sweet enough to your liking)

Full Masterlist, Taglist Form Tom

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

“Nah man stay away from my niece, it’s weird” Anthony laughed taking a sip of beer around the table on set, watching Tom’s eyes follow Y/n around the set. Anthony luckily had gotten his niece an internship with the camera team on set, giving her the experience she needed for the career she oh so dearly wanted.

“Mate I didn’t even say anything” Tom whined, being teased for the hundredth time today, especially after Anthony found out about Tom's not so little crush on his niece, Y/n Mackie.

“Holland she’d never go for you, trust” Mackie laughed setting down his glass bottle, hearing his name being called from the set, leaving behind a smirking Holland who was now leaning back onto his seat before pushing himself up to stand up to walk towards his trailer

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

“You took too long Tommy” Y/n whined tucking herself in more into Tom’s bed, nodding her head further into the soft plush cushion he had gotten specifically for her.

“Sorry babe, you know your uncle will literally kill me if he catches us, you know that right?”

Tom laughed watching Y/n pout, flipping up his side of the bed Tom slipped in beside her, pulling her body flush up against his.

“I’m naked Tommy bar my shorts” Y/n laughed throwing her arms around his neck, caging her legs around his waist to wrap herself around him like a koala.

“Mhm I know” He smirked pushing her chest against his even more, feeling her hardened nipples brush up against his chest, a satisfied smile coming up on his face. Y/n scoffed slightly, getting used to her boyfriend being such a perverted asshole, after all it’s already been 7 months.

“How long we gotta keep this secret” She whispered pulling the sheets over her and Tom’s head, her hands resting on the nape of his neck and playing with his unruly baby curls. His face hidden into the crook of her neck, inhaling her deep coconut scent,

“I dunno baby, i’m happy with what you wanna do, but just know your uncle will kill me” He chuckled moving one of his hands down to slip them under her velvet shorts, groping one of her cheeks in his hand almost like it was for his own comfort. Y/n leant down and kissed Tom’s forehead, rubbing his arm as he peppered soft kisses all over her chest lovingly; making sure to leave marks wherever he could.

“I-I wanna tell him Tom, I want to be able to go on actual dates with you and tell my family that you’re my boyfriend. I’m sick of sneaking around, even though it is exhilarating”

“Hmm alright if that’s what you want lovie, i’ll stand behind you on that. I dont even know why he’s so against it?” Tom huffed

“Baby he’s against every boy i’ve ever let him meet-“

“Hold on what boys? You told me I was your first proper boyfriend” Tom interrupted looking up at his girlfriend, absolutely awestruck by her beauty, “Well yeah you are, doesn’t mean he hasn’t met my guy friends”

Poking both of their heads out from under the covers, Y/n leaned forward and pushed her lips against Tom’s for a soft sensual kiss, his hands both going to settle on the backs of her thighs to pull her on top of him.

“H-hey babe, you know that uh movie we made? A few weeks ago? I was wonderin’ if you could send me a copy”

“You mean the sex tape?”

“Shush don’t say it so loudly, Mackie has the ears of an eagle” Tom scolded watching his girlfriend’s lips pull up into a teasing smile before falling into one of shock,

“what is it love?”

“T-the movie, it’s on the camera I lent to the Russo-“

“Fuck FUCK FUCK” Tom screamed rushing out of the bed, not even sparing a second glance as he ran towards the current set

———

Taglist Tags (Form is up there^^): @vrittivsanghavi @tinyelfperson @fdl305 @marvelgurl @uwiuwi @stormcloudss @misshale21 @hallecarey1 @nikkitc0703 @mischiefsemimanaged @aerangi @alina02 @bookfrog242 @alexxavicry

[the-eclectic-wonderer]

When I first read The Hobbit (or, rather, its Italian translation) I was 12. Oddly enough, the copy was lent to me by someone I would grow to really despise (how he could be a fan of Tolkien's works and still harbor so much bigotry in his heart, I'll never know), but I still thank him for that singular act of kindness, because I loved it to bits. And how could I not? I was 12 - still in the prime age for proper adventure, and I was reading one of the best, most exciting adventures ever written.

I have no memory of my second time reading it - I know it must have happened, because I now own a copy in the original English and I must have read it when it was gifted to me, and I know it must have happened in the years around my twentieth birthday, because there is a pencil note in the margins of page 162 explaining the meaning of the word portcullis in the neat handwriting I developed during my first years in university. I'm not someone who normally writes in my books, not even to underline passages, so I can't help but wonder why I decided to note a meaning down - I think perhaps I felt the need to leave a mark, to really make the book my own, to prove to myself I was a real person with a real identity that actually existed and loved a wonderful novel like The Hobbit. Whatever I felt, I'm sure it was a sparkle of light in an otherwise dark time in my life.

I'm writing these verbose notes now, just after finishing my third re-read of The Hobbit, and I'm struck by the differences between this reading and the previous ones - and by how, as incredible as it seems, I loved it more this time around. From the very first word on the very first page I could picture Tolkien himself telling this story to his kids, drinking in their amusement and their wonder; and this feeling, the love that pours out from every single sentence, endeared it to me all the more. There's still a part of me that's excited by the adventure, that drinks in all the tales of bravery and cunning and dreams of blue skies and open plains - but there's also a part now that understands the danger, the suffering, the fear, and loves little brave Bilbo so much more for it. There's a part that understands why Bilbo came back irrevocably changed, that gets why at the end of his adventure he only longs to go back to his hobbit-hole, and why he can love his home and the good food and the comfort and his friends with a different depth after coming back. It's the part of me that read the final line, with Bilbo laughing among friends and passing Gandalf the tobacco-pipe, and closed the book with tears in her eyes and a full, warm heart.

I don't want any children, but if I ever have nephews and nieces, it will be my joyful pleasure to embark on this adventure with them once again, and I hope they'll come to understand why the little tobacco-pipe is the most important part of it, too.

[allieebobo]

hello again!! follow up ask time because u cannot just leave me hanging with the fact u ended up owning the school library copy of one fierce hour damn!!!!!!

anyway my drama teacher lent (gave?) me his personal copy of off centre (another thing i could go for hours on about; really want to read/watch/perform more of haresh sharma's works, i've only watched a bootleg of 'those who can't, teach' on youtube and read, watched (a lot of versions on youtube) and performed off centre) ANYWAY he lent it to me bc i was performing a monolgue from it and it's been lying on my desk for three years. i graduate in one and he may have just. forgotten. it's very awkward now and my friend is in the same predicament with another book he lent her and she at least assured me it wouldn't be THAT bad if i still had it after graduating bc he has another copy lmao

but yeah anyway i found alfian sa'at after my english teacher gave me more recommendations for singaporean poets via poetry.sg!! even before i knew he was queer (and all the other controversy haizz) when i first read his 'autobiography' poem (here if u want: http://www.poetry.sg/alfian-saat-autobiography) and it stuck out so much and was so special, from the way he uses his language to idk his themes? really great stuff

anyway done with another long ask <3 take care!!

Ooh yes please go on about off centre if you'd like, I'd love to know more, had not heard of haresh sharma before and I might just watch one of the YouTube performances! Crazy that it's so well documented on YouTube!

And lmao that teacher sounds like he's definitely giving those books out--spreading the love of good literature! :) what a saint!

Aww your English teacher sounds very awesome as well--and thanks for the rec! :) one of my fave English teachers once shared a poem with me once (very short) about grief but it was about flowers and spring and I guess the point was that life goes on? She told it to us in the context of her brother passing away and it made such an impact on me and I can't for the LIFE of me find it back no matter what search terms I use and it's literally been bugging me for the past 10 years. Thought I'd try my luck with you? Maybe you might know it.

You take care too!

Oh forgot to add--dont you think Alfian Sa'at and the way he writes his poems has a cadence/rhythm to it that sounds like singlish?? I love that so much and I wish I knew more how to use that rhythm in my writing.

[she-karev]

📚June Book Review📚

5/5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Read to me sweetheart.”

The title is self explanatory and basically summarizes the book. My best friend recommended it to me and I am so grateful that she lent me her copy. There has never been a literary character I related to more than Cather Avery. She’s introverted like me, a book lover like me and most importantly she writes fanfiction like me. It doesn’t just show Cath writing for her fans it shows her learning to step out of her comfort zone little by little without changing who she is and what she likes to do in her free time. I always thought it was stupid of me to write stories that are set in someone else’s creations but this book showed me there’s nothing wrong with sharing your imagination to the world. Even if there’s backlash you shouldn’t let it stop you from doing what you love.

[beesmiley]

Romance Trial Questions - Phlox & Gale 🌿🔮

Phlox Nanadi: Heiress of Deergarde. Nature's protector and friend of beasts. One can hide many things behind a smile.

Q: Nature brings peace and comfort. What memory brings Phlox the most comfort? 1. Dancing at banquets with her siblings. >> 2. Reading fairy tales in her treehouse as a child with Gale. 3. Any time around the camp fire with the group.

Phlox: "Absolutely. The copy of 'Nature's Hope' he lent me is still well loved and kept in my personal library." Q: Traveling the various corners of Faerun brings plenty of challenges and obstacles, forcing us to face our fears in the process. What does Phlox fear most? >> 1. Losing those she loves most. 2. Being unable to stop the destruction or withering of a forest. 3. Beholders.

Phlox: "...(sigh) Who wouldn't be? Too many of those I would lay my life down for have either left me or died. Your heart can only take so many heartbreaks before you can't take the pain anymore."

Q: Being able to stand up against evil is no small feat and it's not one that many would take on themselves. Once this journey comes to an end, where does Phlox hope to be? 1. She hopes to die valiantly in battle. 2. She hopes to keep traveling throughout Faerun, fostering love and care for nature and animals. >> 3. She hopes to be reunited with her family, with Gale by her side and her older brother found.

Phlox: "Yes. The two things I want more than anything in this world are to find Sarminar safe and sound, and for Gale to understand that he is loved and is very special to me. I love him, and I'm sorry it took all these years for me to tell him." All answers correct: Phlox: : "Life pushes us down paths, some of them bright and clear and some of them dark and dangerous. We've both navigated through the dark for some time now, unsure if the path will clear up ahead. But it has and it is beautiful. I'm glad we were able to find the light once more and that we found each other again, my love."

[eddiediazismyhusband]

The Last Book I…

tagged by @firefighterevandiaz 💕💕💕 and i am FINALLY getting around to actually doing this omg

Bought:

I bought a 1953 edition of The Great Gatsby to add to my vintage book collection!

Borrowed:

I actually just recently gave back my friend’s copy of The Picture of Doiran Gray which I had never read before, but it is one of her favorites so I read it this spring (actually right before s7 if 9-1-1 premiered!)

Was Gifted:

A friend of mine gifted me a book on the history of wigs and wig making for my birthday last year that I keep with my other fashion history books (another non-fandom interest of mine irl)

Gave/Lent to someone:

My copies of the Anne of Green Gables books. I was a huge fan of the books and the 1980s miniseries when I was younger, and collected the entire set of Anne books, so when my friend expressed interest in reading them, I lent them to her!

Started:

The Picture of Dorian Gray actually… I haven’t read much other than fanfiction since then to be entirely honest lmao

Finished:

Again, The Picture of Dorian Gray!

Gave Five Stars:

This technically isn’t the last book I read that I gave five stars, but it is one of my all tike favorite books and that is Maurice by E. M. Forster

Gave Two Stars:

Tess of the d’Urbervilles. I had to read it for an English class a couple semesters ago and it made me uncomfortable and it honestly kind if scarred me a little… which I understand is the point, but I need something redeeming for that much tragedy.

Didn’t Finish:

The Devil Wears Prada. I love the movie and wanted to read the book, but with school and other stuff going on in my life I just never finished and only got like 2 chapters in.

Tagging Anyone who wants to do this <3

[littlestsnicket]

13 Books Meme

tagged by @soymimikyu like weeks ago

1) The Last book I read: I just finished And then? And then? What else? by Daniel Handler and Poor Things by Alasdair Gray

2) A book I recommend: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

3) A book that I couldn’t put down: And then? And then? What else? I read this in like two days even though I was on vacation (the sort of vacation where I was supposed to be doing things and seeing family). Some other things I remember reading in one day/sitting: Lungbarrow (it's a Doctor Who book, it is insane), To Kill a Mockingbird, most of the R.A. Salvadore books, Poison for Breakfast

4) A book I’ve read twice (or more): So many, how am I even supposed to answer this question? I love re-reading books.

5) A book on my TBR: the rest of the Wolf Hall books, A Day in the Life of Abed Salama

6) A book I’ve put down: Whatever the book soymimikyu lent me that i did not like. i can't remember the name. It was about like... teenagers turning into zodiac creatures or something? I actually may be completely wrong about that. I literally have no idea what was happening. I don't think it was objectively badly written, but I would read a few pages and realize that I had retained literally no information. (That's a problem I have a lot watching TV (I love watching sitcoms and things that engage every last bit of my focus and things in between are a real problem for me), but I don't usually have that problem reading, so it was a bit of a weird experience.)

The Once and Future King. I think I tried to read that around the time I failed to read Dracula, so I think it's time to go back to that one soon. I did get as far as taking the copy I had as a young person home with me last time I was at my parents house.

7) A book on my wish list: I want to read the One Piece comics (the library was mad at me when I was trying to request them, and then I forgot to re-request them once I sorted that out... should really do something about that)

8) A favorite book from childhood: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

9) A book you would give to a friend: Gideon the Ninth--I gave that to someone as a Christmas gift

10) A book of poetry or lyrics that you own: Do I own any poetry books?

11) A nonfiction book you own: Room to Dream (it's David Lynch's autobiography).

12) What are you currently reading: The End by Lemony Snicket (for fic purposes). Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski. The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J Maas (I know so many people who like her books, I want to like them, but I am just... not into it. I'm close to finishing this one, but it will have taken me, like, a year to read)

13) What are you planning on reading next? next on my list is to re-read Gideon the Ninth (so I can read Harrow the Ninth). And Orientalism by Edward Said. I read one of his essays for school a long time ago, and it feels very topical now. (And Baptism of Fire.)

uh, I'm supposed to tag people now... @fangirleaconmigo @gellavonhamster @kitsnicket anyone else who is interested

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

reading update: april

let's go babyyyyyyy!!!!! WHAT have I been reading?

Cursed Bunny (Bora Chung, trans. Anton Hur 2022)

I added this short story collection to my TBR because I saw a reviewer call the first story the grossest thing they had ever read in their life, and you know what? that really was the grossest thing I've ever read in my life. I shan't even describe it because I'm eating and I don't want to ruin my lunch. but Chung writes a fascinating collection of sinister stories that dance across genre and offer up something strange to look at each time; do not let the awful poop baby scare you away.

White Noise (Don DeLillo, 1985)

I had no plans to read this book and in fact did not even know about it until a colleague told me about reading it for a class and then generously lent me her copy. it's an extremely clever book and also a maddening on that I wouldn't recommend to anybody; the ways in which DeLillo builds his commentary on class and consumerism and The Unbearable Shallowness Of It All is so deft and also made me feel like I personally was going insane. just pages and pages of brilliantly constructed drivel that means nothing and says so much. I think if the average booktokker had to explain this book they would explode and I should probably be on a watchlist for enjoying it.

Lunar Love (Lauren Kung Jessen, 2023)

this is hands down my favorite of romance novels I've read so far this year, because the protagonist, Olivia, it batshit fucking crazy. she's not supposed to be, we're probably supposed to just find her a little uptight and lovably neurotic, but she's absolutely unwell and reminded me of nothing so much as an early season Rebecca Bunch from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. I spent the entire book waiting for her to attack someone or commit arson, because if you interpret the Chinese zodiac even a little wrong this woman goes fucking apeshit. tl;dr Olivia works for a matchmaking company based on the Chinese zodiac and truly, sincerely believes that real love cannot exist between people whose animal signs are incompatible; every time this worldview is challenged she has a fresh breakdown about it. the romance is whatever, the dialogue is nothing, and there isn't even any sex, but when I have to rank all twelve romance novels I read this year I strongly suspect Luna Love will be #1 because I support women's wrongs.

Shubiek Lubiek (Deena Mohamed, 2023)

a GORGEOUS (and massive) graphic novel about a world very similar to ours, with one little difference: magic wishes are real, and there's a tightly controlled industry surrounding who gets to use them and what they can wish for. Mohamed beings with an Egyptian shopkeeper, Shokry, currently trying to be rid of three very powerful wishes; what follows are three interconnecting stories of the people who buy Shokry's wishes and how their wishes complicate their lives. Mohamed beautifully balances magic and social commentary, examining every level of how wishes impact society. we see everything from a poor woman imprisoned in an effort to pressure her to sign over a wish to the government to an affluent but deeply depressed teen living in a gated community filled with pet dinosaurs, ending with a story about Shokry himself grappling with how to use the final wish to help a friend. reader, it did make me sob.

My Solo Exchange Diary Vol. 2 (Nagata Kabi, trans. Jocelyne Allen 2016)

there's not much I can say here that will be meaningfully different from what I said about Vol. 1 back in February. Nagata's memoir manga has just gotten to be such a little ray of sunshine for me; seeing her ongoing growth and struggles, the very relatable nonlinear progress, is affirming and devastating in equal measure. this volume in particular becomes much harsher with the benefit of hindsight - seeing her briefly hospitalized and struggling with drinking much more painful reading the book and knowing that her next release will be entirely centered around alcoholism and a much more serious hospital visit. for the love of god I just want this woman to be okay.

Mind of My Mind (Octavia E. Butler, 1977)

I would just like to say that I'm SO glad I decided to read the Patternist books in order of story chronology instead of release date, because if I had read this without spending all of Wild Seed getting to know what Doro's whole deal is I would have been lost at sea. as is, I will be upfront and say Mind of My Mind hasn't been my favorite of Butler's books - it feels like more of a supplemental text than anything, a bit of bonus content to explain the wider world of the Patternists that I know is coming, without the outstanding grace of Wild Seed. but I DO love some unhinged cult behavior, and goddamn does Butler deliver on that front. these telepaths are completely willing to go full cult after, like, two weeks of cohabiting against their will, and frankly I love that level of dysfunction for them.

Priory of the Orange Tree (Samantha Shannon, 2019) - after years of avoiding this fucking behemoth of a book I finally read it, and I'm delighted to report that it's... pretty good? it's fine. it's still unforgivably long and the prose frequently feels a little artless, but if you like a dense-ass fantasy book filled with people who have silly names debating the politics of dragons and magic gemstones in made-up places then you will have a blast. personally I love that shit, so I can wholeheartedly endorse.

Her Body and Other Parties (Carmen Maria Machado, 2017)

I've been rereading Machado's short story collection at a snail's pace, and having finally finished I'm delighted to say: this shit still fucks! I feel like I almost understood "The Resident" this time; definitely more than I ever have before. I'll get it some of these days!

My Alcoholic Escape From Reality (Nagata Kabi, trans. Jocelyne Allen 2019)

oh look, it's the much sadder memoir manga that I said was coming! I gave up all pretense of trying to pace myself this month and grabbed the next volume of Nagata's story from the library pretty much immediately; oddly, the first and fourth seem to be the only ones they have. seeing Nagata's slide back into alcoholism was rough, of course, but I was extremely impressed by the way she managed to so thoroughly translate the pain and tedium of her long hospital stay and pancreatitis diagnosis onto the page. her illustrations of food as she adjusted to her new diet were especially delightful; I felt like I could really feel the joy of discovering new treats that were safe to eat right alongside her. much is made in this book about Nagata's desire to branch out into fiction manga alongside her memoirs, and I'm curious to learn where that part of her career has gone.

[neonstatic]

there is definitely smth going on w me emotionally but i can't put my finger on it bc whenever i almost get it i kind of just forget. esp when ppl ask me how i'm doing. my mind goes blank like nothing's going on and like i'm having my first day on earth.

so what i'm gonna do now is make a bullet point list of everything that's bothering me:

change in season is fkg with me (cold, less sun, etc etc)

lent 2k to my uncle so he can get medical help overseas

been working sundays alone for months and every single time it's a nightmare to manage

changed my availability so they can use me 1 out 3 days off as an emergency but they schedule me in practically every time, so it's basically 2 days off

working 5 days a week as a part-timer feels like a scam

right as we were getting along, one coworker is starting to press my buttons

none of the other guys in my department wanna work more than 2 days a week, so the rest falls on me

my shifts are often very short. it sucks to do a total of 2 hrs in transit for a 4-hr shift without lunch

couldn't find the energy for washday, next week hopefully

took a shower tho, my first in a week

had to run after supervisors to get my schedule every. week. for over 6 months now. even when i wait til the last minute (sunday, when i usually work again on wed) sometimes the schedule is "hard to find" or "incomprehensible" to them bc the manager in charge has her own language or smth

this week i was told to just "repeat the same schedule as last week." couldn't even get a physical copy.

(last week's schedule was made like shit: they didn't put me in for wed evening when usually no one else but me is available. therefore i did not come in.)

had to mute my phone so that i miss work's call bc ofc they would call.

had 3 whole days off and spent 2 at home sitting on my ass. it's not that i even wanted to, it felt more like i couldn't do more than that.

libido off the charts but no space or privacy to take care of it

therefore feeling v touch-starved and clingy. which is gross

didn't brush my teeth last night after a near-perfect 5-month streak. worried this might be the end of a good hygiene era bc it feels harder and harder to keep up the routine

only thing going on for me rn is:

atla fixation pt 2. lovelovelove zuko in every shape and form and pairing. i was looking at fanart of him last night and felt v emotional. not normal

renaissance of my writing phase, or: help, i can't stop thinking abt one of my 2016 roleplay forums with my beloved oc and the small cast of characters tied to him and now i've started rewriting them all by myself like a bedtime story!

oh and i have friends who love me. and i love them too

[stellarsolarisblog]

Not so subtle: Valentin Rusmanov x GN!Reader

Warnings: smoking Bliss, suggestiveness (slight), otherwise fluff Word count: 1,280

Grim is just one of the many words you could use to describe life in Department 19. It was a cold and unforgiving organization where a rigid routine and rules had to be followed in order to survive. You were fine with that for the most part, it’s just that sometimes you wanted some normality.

You made friends with Jaime Carpenter and his friends Larissa, Kate and Matt who offered an escape from grueling military life. Jaime and you could bond over certain things you didn’t feel comfortable expressing like missing your mother. Upon hearing that, he made it a habit to invite you to visit his mom in the cell block.

She was a kind woman who always welcomed you like you were her child as well. You enjoyed talking to her as often as possible. However, one day you needed some advice and when you went to visit her you found her sleeping. Deciding it was unfair to wake her, you made your way as silently back up the stairs when you felt eyes on you. You turned your head only to be greeted by Valentin Rusmanov’s blue eyes staring at you with a slightly amused look.

“Morning.” You said after an awkward moment of silence. He smirked at you, “Good morning.”

He placed a bookmark on the page he was on and closed his book, turning all his attention to you. “Something troubling you?”

And that’s how your semi-regular visits to his cellblock started.

At first you came to him when Marie was busy or stopped for a small chat so you don’t seem rude after all he’s done for the Department. Then these small chats turned into him offering you to join him for coffee or tea. Soon this morphed into you just casually strolling in through the UV barrier whenever you wanted to talk to him.

…

You made your way down to him holding his copy of Madame Bovary. He lent it to you when you expressed your distaste for modern romance novels. The book was a battered paperback, barely held together. It had that old book smell and yellow pages. The small notes on the sides in Romanian didn’t escape you. You won’t tell him but you used Google Translate to figure out what he wrote.

“Morning, is this a bad time?” You asked still a bit sleepy.

“Ah, good morning, not at all. Some coffee, perhaps?” he smiled looking at your exhausted expression.

“Yes, please. It took me all night but I finished it.” You held up the book for him to take. The way his fingers grazed yours wasn’t lost on you.

He poured some fresh coffee for you and placed it before you. “You were in no rush to return it, why didn’t you rest?” He raised an eyebrow, teasingly. Damn his flirtatious nature.

“I couldn’t put it down. It was amazing. You were right, it did change my views on modern novels.” You sip your coffee and sigh. Coffee always tasted better when he prepared it, even when you bought the same brand. His was somehow better.

He let out a deep chuckle, “Oh, I was right? Imagine that…” Valentin dragged his tongue over the bottom edge of his top teeth. He crossed his right ankle over his left knee and held the ankle with his left hand. His right hand held his coffee cup. “Which part was your favorite?”

Taking a long sip of the rich coffee, you begin your rant on the book. Slyly slipping in some of his personal commentary you read on the pages.

“... But that’s not even the worst thing about Emma! She is so spoiled, so blind she…” You waved your hand around like crazy. The rant paused only for you to take a sip of the hot beverage to soothe the dry throat. Valentin paid no mind, he was focused on you entirely. “… Yes, of course life would have been easier as upper class but come on, it’s not like they were struggling! Charles was trying hard, he made an honest living! She should’ve…” Valentin looked at you with open admiration, he loved listening to you rant about things you had strong opinions over. Most of all, he loved providing material for your rants. It was no problem lending you books. Hell, he would’ve had his associates buy books specifically so that he could give them to you. He listened, but a part of him was elsewhere until you said “… she dreamt of a life she had no desire to work for” He paused. This sentence felt familiar.

“So you’ve taken my own thoughts into consideration whilst reading?” he teased with a smile.

You blinked, “Sorry?” Valentin chuckled before flipping the pages of the book, tapping a pencil note and reciting it in Romanian.

He put the book down and sucked his teeth, looking you up and down. Suddenly you felt squeamish.

“Okay, I may have reviewed them. So what?” You avoid his gaze, embarrassed to have been caught. Valentin finds it endearing.

…

“Just try it, I promise you’ll like it.”

“No, why would I want vampire drugs?”

“Why wouldn’t you?”

Valentin was enjoying his Bliss laced cigarettes a bit too much. He took of his jacket, rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt and undid a button or two. You sat there with a smirk, shaking your head as he smiled with those pretty blue eyes.

They turned red as soon as he inhales the smoke and his head falls back, legs slightly parted as he enjoyed his high.

You blush at the suggestiveness of the scene and turn away.

“I can hear your heartbeat.” He says to you and slowly lowers his head to you with a smirk.

“Worry about your own heart, Valentin.” You roll your eyes at him when he takes another drag, “I’ll just leave it with you, it’s safer.”

You didn’t reply, knowing he’ll say just about anything when Bliss is in his system. But there is something about the way he looks at you, he smiles with his eyes no matter in what state he is. You know that the look he is giving you isn’t just a side effect of the drug, but something more. You don’t read too much into it.

…

Sometimes the operators didn’t sleep in the same intervals. You desperately needed sleep but the living quarters were too loud. You groggily marched down to the all too familiar cellblock to find shelter for the night.

Valentin was lounging on his chaise lounge reading when he noticed you enter. He glanced at his wrist watch and furrowed his brows. His eyes darted upwards to find your half closed ones.

“Can I sleep here?” you ask wearily.

How is this a question? Of course you can! He will always welcome you and protect you. He grew quite fond of his friendship with you and didn’t even deny some deeper feelings that started forming.

“Of course, sleep well.” He nodded and returned to his book, or at least pretended to.

You sigh and drag yourself over to his bed. “Thank you. Ugh, I could just kiss you right now.”

“You could.” He replied with raised eyebrows.

As you settled under the covers you stopped and turned to face him. The air was starting to shift but your tired mind didn’t allow any shenanigans. “Good night, Valentin.” You chuckle.

Valentin smiles at you, “Good night, dragostea mea.”

You don’t tell him you know what  that means. Let him think he is being smooth.

[dragonofthemountain]

fun fact: the first time I played Skyrim, I went into it less than blind. My only other experience with video games had been Mario Kart with an elementary school friend, Skylanders, and Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 on my dad’s old computer. Of course, I was vaguely aware that the game had dragons in it and the memes about it had been around for as long as I had been on the internet. This was total and complete summary of my awareness about the game.

My roommate however, who had lent me her copy of the game to make a new save file on, loved it dearly and was very eager to watch me play for the first time.

Some several hours in and I finally began the Dark Brotherhood quests. We all know how it goes: contact Aventus, kill some old hag, receive a very spooky letter. Strange letter arrives and my interest is now thoroughly piqued. My roommate is thrilled. She loves the Dark Brotherhood questline and is very eager to see my reactions to it. Unfortunately, I’m not entirely sure what to do with the letter so I put it into my inventory and continue about my day, relatively assured that whatever happens next in the quest will happen naturally.

Time goes by and I still confused about the nature of the letter. Nothing has happened since and I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve encountered one of the many infamous bugs of this game. Unbeknownst to me, my poor roommate has begun to realize that I may be dumber than i look and there is a very little chance of me actually getting into a bed at literally any point in this playthrough.

After several instances of me choosing to stand outside a shop and wait for 12 hours instead of finding a bed and sleeping in it like a normal person, my poor roommate finally caves and just tells me to go lie down already please

I did like the Dark Brotherhood quest and feel very bad for my roommate and for me that it took so long to figure out what the hell I was supposed to do