#blog wrapup

[dogbertliveblogsowlhouse]

Pleased to announce that the episode list has officially been updated

Along with the links to all of my liveblogs (and the two posts making up for the gigahiatus), I have also fully updated my episode ranking to include every episode of the show. You can see all that right here.

Sorry about the wait, I think the reason I waited so long to do it is because I knew that once I did, I would officially be done with this blog, and my relationship with this show. It wasn’t exactly something I was looking forward to, but it’s done.

So, now that we’re here, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for reading once again (even the 10 people who followed after my final blog for some reason lmao.) I already said all I wanted to say in my other “final post”, but truly, it means the world to me that this many people cared about an endeavor I went on. Even if it’s just posting silly reactions to a silly cartoon on the internet.

Again, if you want a more proper conclusion, go read the pinned post on this blog. But for now.. I guess this is it.

Once again, I love you all. I’ll seeya when I seeya.

[godzilla-reads]

Happy Last 🐸 Day of February 🥳

This month I read 17 books, bringing my yearly total to 31 books so far! My Top 3 Books were hard to choose because I had so many 5-star reads this month, but I did indeed choose three which are starred below in the official list:

⭐️ Earth Keeper: Reflections on the American Land by N. Scott Momaday

🎨 The Art of Faery by David Riché

🧧 Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham

🧡 Blood Orange by Yaffa As

🔭 Saga Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

🍄 The Mushroom Garden by Adam Oehlers

⭐️ Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

🍃 Leaf Litter by Jarod K. Anderson

🏔️ Think Like a Mountain by Aldo Leopold

⭐️ What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

🌏 All Art is Ecological by Timothy Morton

🎲 The Last Session Vol. 1: Roll for Initiative by Jasmine Walls, Dozerdraws, and Micha Myers

🧚 The Door in the Hedge by Robin McKinley

🐸 Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

💤 The Gargoyle by Garry Kilworth and Dan Williams

☀️ Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest by Phoebe Wahl

💟 The Death of Sitting Bear: New and Selected Poems by N. Scott Momaday

[ilikekidsshows]

I’m starting to form a theory of how The Owl House introduces characters. I’ve seen a lot of people point out the dichotomy between Hunter’s introduction here and how he’s characterized later in the series. Similar complaints of a first appearance making a character seem more unsavory in their first appearance have been levied against other characters as well, usually to claim that fans shouldn’t be so quick to view them as good people and how they need to make up for their previous villainous deeds. But here’s the thing, this dichotomy is interpreted by the audience as a sign of the characters’ duplicity, not the writers. Meanwhile, I am very much convinced that the characters being more villainous in their first appearances is a writer choice first and foremost, and a choice with a purpose.

It all comes down to how I described how a lot of characters on this show are introduced: villainously. Many recurring characters in this show are introduced as “villain of the episode” characters, even when they are intended to become allies at the end. Eda and King consider possibly eating Luz and then treat her like family ever since (King even jokes about this in the season one finale), Amity tries to get Luz dissected in her first appearance and ends up a love interest, Bump tries to do the dissecting and is shown to be a reasonable authority figure, Edric and Emira plan to bully and publically humiliate their sister but are incredibly supportive and helpful with her schoolwork, Hunter is fully supporting the Emperor’s reign and becomes an ally, and no doubt the ending of ‘Any Sport in a Storm’, another episode people complain about, will match the pattern. What I’m getting at is that The Owl House has a pattern where a character’s introduction will rarely give us much useful info on them, merely presenting a simplified version of the character that can serve as an obstacle first and it’s only after that obstacle role is played out that their characterization gets more room. It's function before consistency.

In reference to a mega hit series that does this same thing, I’ve taken to calling this characterization trope the Jojo Phenomenon. The manga and anime Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure had a pattern where the main character (the Jojo) will collect many colorful allies, but not before beating them in a fight, and the fights happen because the future allies will act as villains in their first appearances due to outside influences or misunderstandings, changing their manner to be much more friendly and righteous after they join the heroes’ group. Sometimes the difference is so stark that the character seems to change personalities entirely.

Now, as to why JJBA does this, it’s for the purpose of misdirecting the audience, subverting expectations, if you will. Any even slightly story savvy reader or viewer will guess that, since most stories need supportive casts, some of the people the main character meets will become their supportive cast. When the supportive cast is presented as villains first, the viewer won’t guess the character’s role the instant they’re introduced. The most effective subversion of expectations is to build up your own story’s expectations and subvert those. This way your audience doesn’t need to be familiar with specific other works to get their expectations subverted.

[thechaoticreader]

🌞July Reading WrapUp🌞

Stats

Total Read: 4

Average Rating: 4.5⭐️

Most Read Genre: Horror

Most Read Format: Physical Book

DNF Count: N/A

Books

Title: Cemetery Boys

Author: Aiden Thomas

Genre: Y/A Paranormal Queer Romance

Format: Physical Book (Library)

Rating: 5⭐️

Start Date: June 17

End Date: July 3

Title: Mr. Harrigan’s Phone

Author: Stephen King

Genre: Short Horror

Format: Physical Book

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Start Date: July 23

End Date: July 23

Title: The Life Of Chuck

Author: Stephen King

Genre: Short Horror

Format: Physical Book

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Start date: July 26

End date: July 26

Title: Maeve Fly

Author: CJ Leede

Genre: Horror/Slasher

Format: Physical Book

Rating: 4⭐️

Start date: July 29

End date: July 31

PS. I’m counting each short story in an anthology as its own separate book!

[winding-maze]

The December 2023 journal is up for my Ko-Fi supporters!

Another short 'n' sweet entry with some end-of-the-year art memes and a wintery photo gallery.

Thank you all for your support - please consider joining my monthly support crew if you can! I do these wrap-ups every month & the support really helps.

Read it here.

[mermaidsirennikita]

Caro's February 2023 Book Recs

February was supposedly romance month, but as always, that was... a skewed concept, lol. Nonetheless, I found a lot of books I did love--read my first Kleypas in over a year (and it was great), found new favorites like Jeannie Lin's The Dragon and The Pearl and Cat Sebastian's Unmasked by the Marquess, and hit several really, really good ARCs (one of which did in fact make me weep).

Anyway, check 'em out!

Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas. Lily Lawson is known as a scandalous virago--though nobody knows what drives her to distract herself with parties and flirting. When she discovers that her sister has been lovelessly betrothed to the cold Earl of Wolverton, Alex Raiford, Lily takes an instant dislike to the man and sets out to ruin the engagement. What she doesn't expect is that, for all that Alex hates her, he also wants her--and he'll do anything to have her.

I love Dreaming of You--and it's still my favorite Kleypas--but I'd never heard much about the preceding book. I've kept Then Came You on ice, waiting for a rainy day to read it. And Jesus, is it underrated. This is kind of a perfect enemies to lovers book of its era. She's wild; he's uptight; both of them are a lot more complicated than they initially seem; she has a good reason to want him out of her sister's life, least of all his clear lust for Lily herself. It's a bit wild, it's a bit outrageous, it did things that actually surprised me--and Alex and Lily's chemistry is priceless. I just love a book where a cold man is set on fire by a woman he absolutely despises. You can see the beginning foundations for Westcliff and Lillian over a decade later--and of course, you get Derek Craven: The Early Years. The ground was laid so well for Derek to fall in love in his own book. In many ways, these novels are kind of perfect companions? I love it, I love it, I love it. 90s-to early 2000s-era Kleypas just hits different.

The Wolf and The Wildflower by Stacy Reid. ARC; read the full review here.

Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin. Since her father unexpectedly ascended to the rank of Emperor, Ai Li's life has changed. But though she wishes to be obedient to her father, she can't marry the warlord Li Tao, who she suspects of treason--and of murdering her brother. Running from her wedding, she runs into trouble--and the mysterious foreigner, Ryam. Neither Ryam nor Ai Li are being completely honest with each other. Neither, however, has any choice but to continue...

This one was so well-written. I've always had a surface level interest in Tang Dynasty China, but I'm not, by any means, an expert--yet Lin transports you to the era. It's extremely rich, and frames a kind of old school, classic story about a rebellious princess and a traveling stranger. Ryam and Ai Li's romance is, in many ways, a lot purer than what I usually like (I mean, not sexually--to be clear, they are FUCKIN'). But they charmed me. And I mean. What a fantastic setup for the next book.

The Dragon and The Pearl by Jeannie Lin. After being rejected by the emperor's daughter, treacherous and powerful warlord Li Tao sets out to capture the previous emperor's most prized possession--famed courtesan Ling Suyin. Believing that Suyin has information he needs, Li Tao keeps her captive... but finds himself falling prey to her quiet, mysterious allure--and manipulations.

THIS SHIT WAS SO LIT. Villainous hero? Check--Li Tao has a clear menace and coldness about him. He's not over the top, but he's brutally efficient and ruthless. Heroine ready to wrap him around her little finger? Check. Suyin is innocent in some ways, but very much aware of the ways of the world in many others--and she's survived by becoming a master manipulator. The delicious thing about this dynamic is that he knows she's trying to play him--but he's too drawn to her to use his better judgment. This is one of those romances where both people clearly come to feel immense passion for each other, but are unable to say it aloud. They come together (and COME together) in bed, but they won't let themselves fully trust one another. Plus, there's the added bonus of them both being self-made legends in severely hierarchal systems. As renowned as he is, so is she. Because he's so rarely soft--the moments when he is fucking destroyed me. And she's just a wonderfully, quietly strong heroine. The plot is intricate and high stakes. It's just so good, y'all!

Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian. Alistair, the Marquess of Pembroke, is upright, proper, and very aware of his reputation in light of his scandalous father's death. So he's disarmed by how easily he's drawn to Robert Selby, a young man who needs Alistair's help in finding his sister a husband. Alistair and Robert become fast friends--with perhaps more simmering under the surface. What Alistair doesn't know? Robert is Charity Church, a housemaid who feels much more at home in a man's clothes than she ever has a woman's--and is attempting to make up for what she perceives as a wrong done to a friend long ago. Charity can't quite resist Alistair; but even if he knew the truth of her identity, how could he possibly accept who she really is?

Another "much recommended classic book is very good" moment. To clarify, Robert/Charity is nonbinary and Cat Sebastian says that they're comfortable with the uses of she/her pronouns (which are used throughout the book, except for when Alistair thinks they're a man). Cat also discusses them using they/them, which is what I will use, as well as their chosen name of Robin, which is how they and Alistair primarily refer to them.

With that said, this is one of the rare friends to lovers romances that works, and oH DOES IT. Alistair and Robin get each other on every level--platonically, romantically, sexually--and it doesn't take long for Alistair to discover (or rather, just be told because honestly he's a bit dense) Robin's true identity. This allows Sebastian to get into the meat of their conflict, which, aside from various secrets Robin's kept for quite some time, is in Robin's identity and their need to express themselves... While also wanting to be with Alistair. The fact is that Robin can, if they make certain moves, theoretically live as a woman and as a marchioness--but for all that they care about Alistair, is that right? Does Alistair fully get how important Robin's identity and expression is to them? These are issues the book tackles without it feeling like a Very Special Episode ever--it's just a part of the conflict in their romance. There's not really any body dysmorphia in this book, which I appreciate; if that's handled well, then great, but it's not a part of every nonbinary person's story, and it's not really something Robin struggles with. The book's queerness is just front and center (Alistair is bisexual, knows this before the book begins, and though he fears outing, doesn't dwell on it much). On a very basic level, it's also just a funny, sexy book; the sex scenes are REAL GOOD, and are exactly the kind of scenes I want from friends to lovers; hardcore fucking with a side of laughter and affection and like... tender fondness. Anyway, I loved it, would recommend.

The Hunter by Monica McCarty. Ewen Lamont is the tracker of the Highland Guard, burdened with familial responsibility. He's caught off guard by a beautiful nun, however--and guilty about a near-miss moment they share. Until he finds out that the nun is actually not a nun at all, but Scottish courier (and former sister-in-law of Robert the Bruce) Janet of Mar. Bruce has a task for Ewen: to bring Janet safely home so that she can make a strategic marriage for the cause. The only problem? Janet very much wants Ewen--and she doesn't believe that he's not attracted to her.

Another really solid Highland Guard book even if it doesn't quite live up to the heights of The Recruit. There isn't quite as much keeping Ewen and Janet apart aside from what is in his head, but honestly... it works. In part because Janet is just so determined to have him. She's a dogged pursuer of a heroine (a type I have a soft spot for) and she does everything she can to break Ewen--asking him to help her undress, parading around in breeches, flirting with his friends, stripping naked when he suggests it just to freak her out... In many ways, this is a medieval roadtrip romance, and their back and forth is super fun and certainly sexy, with just the right amount of angst.

Highland Conquest by Heather McCollum. The four Sinclair brothers were raised by their insane father to act as the four horsemen of the apocalypse--united to conquer weaker Scottish clans and unite them under their rule. Following his father's death, Cain Sinclair becomes Chief, and his first order of business is to marry Ella Sutherland, the Sutherland chief and the woman responsible for the loss of his father. Ella doesn't come willingly, but as she and Cain enter into a battle of wills, she finds herself drawn to the one man whose sense of pride and determination to win matches her own...

If you're someone who needs enemies to lovers to mean bloodshed? This is for you. Cain and Ella literally kill each other's fathers--he gets hers before the beginning of the book, and she gets his in the first few pages. While both of them have admittedly insane fathers who deserved it (Cain's very literally believed his four sons are the four horsemen, and boy do these men have complexes about it) they still take it personally.. at first. This is a fast-paced, over the top read that isn't perfect (I think it could've gone a bit harder in terms of drama at points) but IS fun. I had a great time. It didn't make me think over-much, but it did give me the feelings, and I am about these loony brothers.

The Knight by Monica McCarty. James Douglas--known as "the Black Douglas"--is feared across Scotland and England for his brutal warfare in service of Robert the Bruce and his own ambitions. But to Joanna, who's known him since childhood, he's just her love, and the man who took her virginity. When James returns from war, she intends to tell him she's carrying his child, assuming that he'll happily marry her. But before she can, James makes it clear that he has no intention of marrying Joanna--just in keeping her as his mistress, a fate she can't tolerate. When they separate with James still in their dark about her secret, he's forced to make tough decisions about who he wants to be--and how much he values Joanna.

This novella covered a lot of shit in a short amount of time... and it's pretty different! James Douglas, Lord of Douglas, was a real person. I did in fact picture Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who played him in Outlaw King, the entire time (it was a good choice). I assume that since his wife is not listed on his wikipedia page there is some murkiness there... And I'm good with the way Monica McCarty played with history here. This is basically a classic "man does a good woman wrong, must grovel big time" book. A lot of this novella is groveling--and it should be, because James fucked this girl over. But just as he has to get his shit together, she has to get a backbone and become less innocent... and I'm a bit of a sucker for all that. Some probably read this and think what he did was unforgivable, and like. Sure. If you please. I found their story kind of touching and real, for all its dramatic medieval Scotland shit. Again, a lot happens in a little time--but I was here for the angst.

Something Spectacular by Alexis Hall. ARC; review to come at a later date.

Highland Warrior by Heather McCollum. This book sees self-proclaimed Horsemen of War Joshua Sinclair in Orkney, where he's ready to leave violence behind after a traumatic experience. However, after a wild night with the widowed Kara, he's drawn into conflict again--she wants Joshua to help her defend her village, suffering under tyranny. He's much less eager; but for Kara, he might not be able to resist.

This series is very old school, very pulpy, and just... fun. There's a lot of camp in this one--faked deaths, faked third testicles (yes), our hero getting dragged into being a total stranger's birthing partner... But I was actually super invested in Joshua and Kara as a couple through it all. They hook up early (like, a couple chapters in early) and catch feelings later, and I enjoy that. I also liked the dynamic of a quietly strong woman basically running roughshod over this douchebag of a hero. He's a simp, Your Honor. There's a real Western vibe to this one--a stranger rides into town and gets roped into protecting the people while falling in love with a headstrong single mother (whose child, thankfully, is largely offscreen and mostly serves to show Kara that Joshua is made of 100% Father Material). It's just... fun.

The Arrow by Monica McCarty. Gregor MacGregor is known for two things: being the best archer in Scotland, and being the most handsome man in Scotland. The former has made him an invaluable part of the Highland Guard, while the latter has earned him many obsessed women... Among them his ward, the orphaned Cate. But Cate claims that her feelings for Gregor go beyond infatuation, and despite their age difference and his sense of responsibility for her, she'll do anything to prove it. And he might not be able to resist.

This is definitely one of the riskier outings in the Highland Guard--McCarty tries for a lot of things that romance readers often hate. The obsessed heroine (a trope I love, and I frankly found Cate quite endearing), the resistant hero, That One Thing. Most of it worked for me. The resolution was a little too quick, but I loved Gregor trying and failing to hold out against Cate's onslaught of flirtation, how dirty that made him feel, her determination, how horny they both were... The conflict towards the end did feel a bit--I don't want to say contrived, but I think that if McCarty had moved up a lot of the action in this one about fifty pages earlier, it would've felt smoother. Nonetheless, my quibbles really didn't overpower what I enjoyed.

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan. Josiah and Yasmen had what many considered the perfect marriage--until they didn't. Now, two years after their divorced, they're co-parenting their two children and running a business together. But as big milestones--like moving on and coming to terms with their grief--bring them back into each other's orbit, both Josiah and Yasmen have to wonder if their feelings for each other are totally gone... and if they're brave enough to try again.

Look, this one is a lot. Kennedy Ryan is a beautiful writer, and she does angst wonderfully--and there's a lot of angst in this one. It's a rather realistic romance. None of Josiah and Yasmin's issues are easily fixed. Both of them have fucked up. They dealt with problems that are not their fault and happen to everyone (heads up: they lost a parental figure to both of them and experienced a stillbirth in rapid succession). This is not a light romance. But it is a hopeful one, and if you like second chances--you'll love this. You just want the best for these two, and the best is in fact each other.

Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall. Valentine, the Duke of Malvern, is in a bind when the woman he's planned to marry since their fathers arranged it when they were children, Arabella Tarleton, goes on the run. Arabella has no desire to marry Valentine, but he's determined to do his duty, and is enlisted by her twin, the sunny and carefree Bonaventure "Bonny", to find her. As Valentine and Bonny go on a madcap race through the English countryside together, stiff Valentine finds himself confronted by Arabella's erstwhile admirers, a pair of protective sapphic women, and his own growing fascination with bee-loving, pleasure-seeking, totally-wrong-for-him... Bonny.

Alexis Hall has such a strong voice--whimsical, romantic, hilarious, witty as fuck. And I love it. While Something Spectacular is also funny, it has an air of past tragedy and a bit more angst, whereas this is more firmly a romcom. A romcom with its own dash of drama, but I did quite literally laugh out loud during the reading experience. Valentine and Bonny are the perfect grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and watching them fall in love was pure joy. Even if Arabella is... a lot. She's a plot-instigating lot, so I'm good with it.

The Raider by Monica McCarty. Robbie "Raider" Boyd was imprisoned by the English, and the only way he was able to escape was with the help of the teenage noblewoman who helped him. Six years later, he's taken her hostage--the beautiful Rosalin Clifford. And he wants revenge on the English for everything they've done to his family--the weight of which is devastating--but he also simply... wants Rosalin. A relationship between one of Robert the Bruce's most prized warriors and an English lady is impossible. But neither Robbie nor Rosalin seem capable of remembering it.

A good old-fashioned enemies to lovers warrior/lady romance. It felt hotter than some of the other Highland Guard books--there's a scene against a pole that is... a lot. I'll admit that there's a back and forth that McCarty falls into in some of these books; "we can't be together"/"but sir I want to"/"no little girl" (fucks). It's pleasing, but it is noticeable, especially in the past few I've read. I think I prefer some of the earlier entries, or those without a virgin heroine, which the past few I've read have... always had. But that's kind of the thing with a long-running series, and the beats here are still very enjoyable, and if you're looking for escapism... This is it. The next one I'm reading is marriage in trouble, though, and after four virgin heroines in a row in this series, I'm ready for a changeup.

End of Story by Kylie Scott. Stinging from a bad breakup, Susie seeks respite in the house left to her by her aunt. Until, that is, the contractor sent to help her renovate is Lars, her ex's best friend. And stranger still? They find a divorce certificate in the wall of the house... one dated ten years in the future, with Lars and Susie's names on it. Though initially combative, Lars and Susie become close friends, with a simmer tension between them. But what's the point of taking a chance on a relationship that may be doomed to end?

Kylie Scott is one of my favorite contemporary romance novelists, and she gives all of her trademarks here--hot sex scenes, a sparkling sense of humor, and amazing sexual tension. Lars and Susie sell friends to lovers amazingly, which is hard for me. Additionally, there's a charming sense of magic and witchiness to this. Don't expect answers about where that comes from--that's not the point. However, enjoy the vibes, the heat, and the sweetness. I had some questions about choices made, but they weren't dealbreakers. This would make a great romcom onscreen.

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K.J. Charles. ARC; get my full take here.

A Rogue's Rules for Seduction by Eva Leigh. ARC; review to come closer to publication.

It Seemed Like A Good Idea At the Time by Kylie Scott. Seven years ago, Adele was "exiled" by her father after her attempted seduction of his best friend and business partner, Pete. Now, with bridges mended with her father--and still very much broken with Pete, fifteen years her senior--she's back in town for a wedding, and tension with the man she idolized as a teenager has never been thicker. Making nice for a few days should be enough--but Adele and Pete might be tempted to go a bit further than that...

If you're not into age gap romances, this isn't for you. Though Pete never approached or encouraged Adele when she was underage, they met when she was sixteen, and she certainly wasn't shy about flirting with him. We get flashbacks telling their history, but the bulk of the story takes place in the present, when she's twenty-five and he's forty. It's classic Kylie Scott--funny, sexy, with a guy who doesn't know how to feel his feelings and a girl who's a bit too dickmatized to notice... until she does. I compared this a bit to Deep, a book that had similar elements (an age gap, though less significant than this one, among... other things) and I do feel like Deep goes a bit... well, deeper. But I had a lot of fun with this, and it gave me pretty much everything I wanted out of a "dating daddy's best friend" book. Including spanking.

[litandroses]

2022 Notable Reads

In no particular order! Books included here does not necessarily mean I rated them highly or that I rated them at all. These are the ones that pleasantly surprised me, that had me thinking, made me feel (scarily) seen, and for some the lasting impact (on me) was simply inexplicable sadness.

Should you choose to read whichever book seems interesting to you or one that is not yet familiar to you, I hope you enjoy too.

You may also find this list here <3

[a-star-in-the-darkness]

September Wrap-Up

I can’t believe we’re already approaching the end of September! It’s been a crazy month. I’ve been sick for two and a half weeks and mom was in the hospital for a while, so I really didn’t get much read. And what I did read were chunky books, so this wrap-up will be a short post. The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali I finished this book on the first day of the month, so I guess it’s more…

[atlaswebdesigns]

Monthly wrap-up | August 2024

I had been contemplating whether I should write this monthly wrap-up or not because August did not really give me a lot of moments that would leave me with anticipation for any more months like this. Though my exams going well and a good festive day of Rakshabandhan did bring some good hours of feeling confident and happy, August still managed to become my worst month of 2024 yet. But then…

[thepunktheory]

Wrapping it up for April!

Hello, my darling readers!Another month is over, so let me give you a little summary of the amazing posts just to make sure you didn’t miss anything. 😉 This month was dedicated to all the books I read recently. Let’s take a look at all those! A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow (Fractured Fables #1) A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow (Fractured Fables #2) Oh God Not Again! by Sarah1281 The…

[ishadash92]

March grooves:- monthly song collection(wrap)-2024

Photo by Polina Kovaleva on Pexels.com March was painful and awkward for me. It involved delving into pain, healing, and emerging while holding every piece together. All my playlists helped me get through it! Just like now, while writing, I’m listening to my favourite tracks and peaceful music (for me, it’s the mantras of Mahadev). So this month, I have a few interesting…

[godzilla-reads]

🍄July Reading Wrapup🍄

In the month of July I wound up reading 11 books, bringing my yearly total to 87 books so far! My Top 3 Reads were “Across a Field of Starlight” by Blue Delliquanti, “Thirst” by Mary Oliver, and “Crows” by Candace Savage. Anyway, here’s the list:

🦖 An Alphabet of Dinosaurs by Peter Dodson and Wayne D. Barlowe

⭐️ Across a Field of Starlight by Blue Delliquanti

🐱 A Man and His Cat Vol. 3 by Umi Sakurai

🧌 Irish Fairy and Folk Tales

🦕 Dinosaur Sanctuary Vol. 1 by Itaru Kinoshita and Shin-Ichi Fujiwara

🏴‍☠️ One Piece Vol. 7 by Eiichiro Oda

🐲 The Book of Dragons by Michael Hague

🐉 Year of the Dragon: Legends & Lore by Nigel Suckling and Wayne Anderson

🐰 Bunny Rabbit’s Story by Amy Prentice

♥️ Thirst: Poems by Mary Oliver

🐦‍⬛ Crows: Encounters with the Wise Guys of the Avian World by Candace Savage

What was your favorite read?

[ilikekidsshows]

It really is utterly ironic. One of the biggest reasons I broke up with Miraculous was that no character respected Adrien’s right to protect himself by giving him the information he needs to do so, instead constantly keeping secrets from him and going behind his back to do things that are supposedly “for him”. Now this show, that I started watching around the time the breakup happened, actually literally spells out how hey, that’s not productive to a lasting relationship. Your loved ones will not appreciate you going behind their back to protect them, instead they are very likely to be hurt by such behavior.

When Eda tried to send Luz and King away to protect them, neither of them appreciated it. And now, Camila spelling out what she has been so concerned about and why is a vital turning point in their relationship. This misunderstanding in their relationship, caused by Camila’s desire to protect Luz while not seeing how she’s getting grown enough to be involved in decisions involving her, is the biggest personal conflict in this entire series.

Camila being afraid of what others would think about Luz, how they might hurt her, has caused Luz to think that she’s causing problems and not other people’s scorn. Camila being so used to being alone in trying to help Luz caused her to not involve Luz in decisions involving her life, which in turn caused Luz to keep quiet about what she wanted for herself. Parents don’t want to burden their children because they are the caretakers. This makes distinguishing the lines between your child’s needs and agency difficult. It’s especially difficult for a parent like Camila, who has been shown to have put her personal interests aside in order to be the best mother she could be. She made being Luz’s mom so central to her sense of self that it serves as the filter she views the world through. That’s why it’s so important that we see her starting to embrace her old interests again. It’s good for her for her life to have facets.

It’s not just the fact that Camila and Luz fix the fractures in their relationship by opening up about the things they have been keeping quiet about that makes Camila more sympathetic than the usual examples of: “I only wanted to protect you.” Keeping things from Luz and making decisions for her was never the goal for Camila. The glimpses to her motivations we got were always focused on trying to give Luz support, protection and guidance. The secrets and going over her head were a side effect

[lionstamer]

Weekend Herb Blogging WrapUp

[thechaoticreader]

📚☕️❄️January Reading Wrap Up❄️☕️📚

Stats:

Total Read - 5 books

Avg Rating - 4.6⭐️

Format Most Read - Physical books

Most Read Genre - Horror

DNF Count - 0

Books:

Title: Study For Obedience

Author: Sarah Bernstein

Format: Physical book

Genre: Literary Fiction

Rating: 5⭐️

Started: 12/27/23

Finished: 01/06/24

Title: Heartstopper Volume 5

Author: Alice Oseman

Format: Physical Book

Genre: Young Adult Queer Romance

Rating: 5⭐️

Started: 01/07/24

Finished: 01/08/24

Title: Open Heart, Open Mind

Author: Clara Hughes

Format: Physical book

Genre: Memoir

Rating: 3.5⭐️

Started: 01/10/24

Finished: 01/20/24

Title: And Then I Woke Up

Author: Malcolm Devlin

Format: Audiobook

Genre: SciFi Dystopian Horror

Rating: 5⭐️

Started: 01/23/24

Finished: 01/23/24

Title: What Moves The Dead

Author: T. Kingfisher

Format: Physical book

Genre: Gothic horror

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Started: 01/28/24

Finished: 01/29/24

Books Started:

Dead Romantics - Ashley Poston

It's OK That You're Not Okay - Megan Devine

Surviving To Drive - Guenther Steiner