#bookelf

[juniper-brontide]

My favorite section of Barnes and Noble. Specifically, the young adult thrillers 📚😁 The stories tend to catch my attention immediately and move quick. I love them ❤️ What's your favorite section of Barnes and Noble? #bookelfkiddo #bookelf #barnesandnoble #book #bookshelves #bookstore #bookshop #booklover #B&N #youngadultfiction #youngadultbooks #youngadultthriller #bookphotography #bookdisplay https://www.instagram.com/p/ClrU8LVPPcV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[shannonslocker]

25-ish days of holiday promotion is starting up soon. Some memories may be old. Some experiences may be new. Just get yourself ready because it’s coming at you. #bookstagram #25days #25daysofchristmas #holidaypromotion #elfwithoutashelf #bookelf #booktok #authorsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/ClnNPT9LbfL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ryfkah]

name change! goodbye bookelfe.

[minutia-r]

I was tagged by @aethersea a while back, and I wasn't necessarily going to go again, but then I wrote a passage I liked pretty well, so here we are.

Rules: Write the latest line from your wip (or post where you last left off in your art) and tag as many people as there are words in the line. Make a new post, don’t reblog.

As Master Xuan steps forward, Yi Zifan steps back, burning with shame and anger at herself. Tired! Shifu is kind to try to save her face, but the truth is obvious: she can extend Guanyin's mercy to an assassin who tried to kill Lin Moniao, but not to a young woman who he likes better than he likes Yi Zifan.

ah hm let's tag a few people (not as many as words in the passage): @aethersea if you want to go again, @bamboocounting, @blackrabbitrun, @bookelfe, @maykendehoutman @ilthit

[tenillypo]

Yuletide 2022 round up

This year, I matched with three tempting fandoms for the DMBJ series, which provided an almost overwhelming amount of choices. But I decided to fill in one of my favorite sections from Ultimate Note with a bit more hurt/comfort, because obviously:

All Your Blood and Your Curses

Fandom: 终极笔记 | Ultimate Note (TV) Relationships: Wang Pangzi & Wu Xie & Zhang Qiling Characters: Wu Xie (DMBJ Series), Zhang Qiling, Wang Pangzi Additional Tags: Action/Adventure, Missing Scene, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Huddling For Warmth, Hurt Zhang Qiling, Amnesiac Kitten Zhang Qiling, Protective Wu Xie (DMBJ Series), Wang Pangzi is a Good Friend, Minor Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling, The Iron Triangle | Wang Pangzi & Wu Xie & Zhang Qiling, Zhang Qiling Gets a Hug, POV Multiple, Canon Compliant, Vaguely Implied Past Sexual Assault

Summary: In which the Iron Triangle makes their way out of Tamutuo and finds getting out nearly as difficult as getting in.

———

And then @bookelfe wrote me an absolutely perfect story about two old men whose weird and tortured relationship was my favorite part of The King's Affection because she's amazing.

The pathos! The Yearning! The extremely poor choices explained and then eventually fixed!

The Branch

Fandom: 연모 | The King's Affection (TV) Relationships: Jung Seok-jo/Yoon Hyung-seol Characters: Yoon Hyeong-seol, Jung Seok-jo Additional Tags: Exes, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Missing Scene, Internalized Homophobia, a different conversation at a different time can create a different outcome

Summary: “Should we not have taught them to avoid our own mistakes?”

Hyeong-seol says, calmly, “What mistake?”

After witnessing his son's indiscretion with the king, Jung Seuk-jo is forced into a confrontation with an old friend.

[sophia-sol]

When the Angels Left the Old Country, by Sacha Lamb

I got this book from @bookelfe's review, and like, reading through this book I could ABSOLUTELY see how it is obviously the poison for Becca, Becca's poison, but also: I read the first two pages and was immediately confident I would like this book too. And I was right!

It is a historical fantasy novel with three main characters. The first two are an angel and a demon who live together in a Jewish shtetl in Poland as chevrusas, or study partners in their study of the Talmud, but who for a variety of reasons end up immigrating to the US. The third, Rose, is an extremely lesbian Jewish teen girl who immigrates to the US as well, for opportunities and for adventure and for getting away from her best friend Dinah who had the temerity to marry a man. Then they all get involved with labour activism! And also dealing with ghosts and dybbuks and gentile demons and oppressive immigration policies and more.

The three main characters are all so different from each other and I adore all three of them so so so much!  Never ever a moment of disappointment on switching viewpoints, just excitement to spend time with that character again. Also: the narrative itself is a character with an "I" which I love too. Actually I would have loved if this was an even more prominent feature too! Love me a book where the narrative isn't trying to disappear into the background but has its own opinions separate from that of the characters it's writing about.

Plus the book as a whole is suffused both with very Jewish and very queer vibes and I love this about it. I am not Jewish myself so cannot speak in detail to that aspect of it, though I always love to read books that go all in on depicting very specific experiences like this! And the queerness....ohhhh it was beautiful. This book not just a book with queer characters; the whole narrative is queer in its soul, and I love that for it. And for me, reading it!!! It's just like, this is a book that understands me.

My biggest complaint (and it is a very small one, in comparison with all the great things about the book) is that I wish we'd gotten more of Actual Essie. She's the macguffin of the plot, the inciting incident that gets the angel and Little Ash to leave their shtetl and eventually end up in the US, and finding her and saving her continues to be a goal that is returned to throughout. But she barely shows up on page at all, and I want to know more of what she's like! From what little we see, I really liked her!

Plus, do I believe that a 16 year old girl who has had a VERY exciting time of it of late and has gone through a bunch of real big life transitions would transfer her affections from her best friend she's been pining over forever to the girl who was the focus of the adventure and who got to see Rose being cool and badass and admiring her for it? Absolutely, but something about how, after barely knowing her, she sees in Essie's eyes what Dinah must have seen in Saul's (and then forgives Dinah easily as a result) doesn't quite sit right. Idk maybe this is me being too aro again! But she knew and loved Dinah very specifically as a person in her life, and she barely knows Essie at all. This is too fast!! Anyway more of Actual Essie would probably have helped with this too.

At any rate, thank you Becca for the rec because this was a GREAT read.

[katenepveu]

Today's Les Mis Letters, 1.2.13, is actually where I left off listening in the audiobook when I was getting ahead—more specifically, I left off just a bit into the chapter, when Jean Valjean has just stolen the boy's coin. I stopped there because I'd finished whatever household task I was doing, and wanted to switch to reading because the audiobook, while very skillfully narrated, was not the optimal experience for me. And then, because I was far enough ahead and wanted to go back to my other giant 19th c. novel, Moby Dick, I stayed partway through the chapter until today.

And I really didn't know what would happen! A couple of weeks ago, I visited @bookelfe and @artificialities and told them, I just don't know what to expect, I have the vague impression that he's going to be redeemed, but has this been enough or is there more—this book is called "The Fall," after all? And they exercised excellent poker faces and said not a word. (I genuinely know almost nothing about this book's plot.)

So now I know! And what I said yesterday about needing to spend time with the Bishop to believe that this would happen—it applies even more to today.

I very much like this description:

He felt indistinctly that the old priest’s forgiveness was the greatest assault and the most deadly attack he had ever been rocked by; that if he could resist such clemency his heart would be hardened once and for all; that if he gave in to it, he would have to give up the hate that the actions of other men had filled his heart with for so many years and which he relished; that this time, he had to conquer or be conquered and that the struggle, a colossal and decisive struggle, was now on between his own rottenness and the goodness of that man.

Do I agree with it? Not sure! But it's good prose.

Finally, I like that he could not find Petit-Gervais.

It'll be interesting being no longer ahead! Though I may read ahead this weekend, as I have train rides, and daily reading is easy to get behind on.

[katenepveu]

@bookelfe it's the inverse of The Company!

(a long series that goes completely bonkers by the end, but starts from the premise that there's a secret Company that is doing this surprise-not-extinct thing, except for capitalist reasons)

here is a concept: time travel cop, fish & wildlife division

most of their job is dealing with the kinds of assholes who think black market tiger cubs are a great idea right up until someone gets mauled, except these are even bigger assholes with black market Smilodon cubs that they are even less equipped to care for

this is the most straightforward and therefore relatively headache-free part of their job, because it’s the same “put that thing back where it came from or so help me” song and dance every time

it’s also significantly less depressing than the trophy hunters who don’t even want an alive extinct animal. those are extra annoying because you have to undo the time travel that let them kill that poor Megatherium or thylacine or anklyosaur or whatever, and it’s always so much extra paperwork.

and those people suck, definitely, and have fully earned a stint in Time Jail. no question. but they still do not create anywhere near as much work as the obsessive hobbyists with their exhaustively careful best practices and worryingly good track-covering. also, weirdly, it’s almost always birds with them?

like. the guys who will flagrantly abuse Time Law to bird-nap breeding pairs just long enough to raise one clutch of eggs apiece, and return them seamlessly to their spots on the timeline. who are so determined to keep their pet (ha) projects going that no one even realizes what they’re doing until they have an entire stable breeding population of passenger pigeons up and running. who are now the reason that reps from six different zoos are about to start throwing hands right in front of you over who gets dibs.

those guys cause the most paperwork. and half the time they’re snapped up by the same zoo or wildlife preserve that gets their colony of ivory-billed woodpeckers or Carolina parakeets or — once, very memorably — giant fucking South Island moa, and they never even spend a day in Time Jail.

[lifewithost]

I liked drawing #Bookelf so much I made her a friend. "Embrace the absurdity of the universe...the weirdness of the self" #doodle Not sure what to call this one. https://www.instagram.com/p/B9V80LmlU9F/?igshid=mi1m2nqoblp9

[juniper-brontide]

Book review post!!!

The following description taken from Amazon:

Sola Morte, former cat burglar and safecracker, has given up her old life on the wrong side of the law. On the run from a drug lord’s family, she is lying low far from Caldwell, keeping her nose clean and her beloved grandmother safe. Her heart, though, is back up north, with the only man who has ever gotten through her defenses: Assail, son of Assail, who never meant to fall in love—and certainly not with a human woman. But they have no future, and not just because she doesn’t know he is a vampire, but because he is not about to stop dealing arms to the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Fate, however, has other plans for them. When Assail falls into a coma and lingers on the verge of death, his cousins seek out Sola and beg her to give him a reason to live. The last thing she wants is a return to her past, but how can she leave him to die?

As a lethal new enemy of the vampires shows its face, and the Brotherhood needs Assail back on his feet, Sola finds herself not only a target, but a mission-critical force in a war she doesn’t understand. And when Assail’s truth comes out, will she run from the horror . . . or follow her heart into the arms of the male who loves her more than life itself.

This is book 16 of 21 of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood Series. I absolutely love this series❤️. The brothers are all a dream ✨️ I am behind in the series as I took a break from it a few years ago, but with the release of her latest book, Lassiter, I am back on the wagon and catching up with this fabulous series. I wasn't that fond of the main character of this book, he is not a brother, but I thoroughly enjoyed Vishous and Doc Jane's storyline and the introduction to the new evil villain. I can't wait to see what happens next! This take on vampires is something different and fresh. If you like paranormal romance, that's also a little gritty and Hot 🔥, I highly recommend this series!

4.5 out of 5 stars 🌟

[loganashleyauthor]

These were included in last year's Halloween @litcube which featured some adorable goodies and @nerdygrldesigns never disappoints!. . Do you have a go-to bookmark/few bookmarks you use consistently? I have fallen in love with these magnetic bookmarks for my planner. They make everything so east to access!. . . . . . . #thebookelves #bookelf #read #reading #books #bookworm #bookstagram #instabooks  #lovebooks #bibliophile #bookmarks #hocuspocus #autumn #leaves

[agirlsowild-blog]

I read this book today in my class I admit that I wasn't listening to any classes. ⁣ ⁣ Story - Mr.Dirty⁣ ⁣ Author - Nana Malone⁣ ⁣ Things I liked about the book:-⁣ 1. Sophia is independent women ⁣ 2. Nathan understands that communication is important to have a relationship.⁣ 3. Nathan stands on his feet after moving away from his dad to protect his step mom. ⁣ 4. He loves and cherishs his dead mom. ⁣ 5. Gemma is that friend who reminds us that we don't need someone to survive in life only friends are enough. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5⁣ ⁣ For more book reviews, please dm me @bookarazzipavani⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #bookishlove #books #bookdragon #booklove #booklover #tuesdayread #femmemarch #readingbetter #lovestory #bookelf #booknerd ⁣ ⁣#bookaddict #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookreview #bookclub #bookworms #booksforever #bookishphotography ⁣ ⁣ https://www.instagram.com/p/BuoKkvzn3Pe/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1oeuxlvhz8y5f

[sleepnoises]

city bird, jesca hoop?

bandcamp link: city bird - jesca hoop

oooh i love the folk vocalizations in the middle and the line that becomes a little ghost chorus. and the depth of mood and story she packs in here! thank you!!!

[gurguliare]

bookelfe replied to your post “anoteinpink replied to your post “Talk to me about discworld, I will...”

the problem with late stage Carrot is he turns into a Dorothy Dunnett protagonist

A Dorothy Dunnett “protagonist,” is he

dundee998 replied to your post “This is a safe space for you to state your opinion of a Discworld book...”

reaperman was too excellent of a book to be marred by the stripmall scenes and it's very tragic

haven’t read reaper man in eons but I have to confess that while I obviously found the a-plot touching and deeply meaningful, I... fucking love Windle Poons. And for that matter. the Area X stripmall. And Pratchett’s anti-suburb agenda. Holy shit, sorry, I JUST put the pieces together on the fact that the stripmall ruined Annihilation for me ten years in advance, don’t mind me. 

thislousytshirt replied to your post “if i've never read a discworld and wanted to start, should i start at...”

ugh every time you mention small gods i am POSSESSED with the primal need to read it but then i never do because i cant read books anymore fucking rip. still best book

I hear the audiobook is nice ;)))

[katenepveu]

@bookelfe @artificialities

Four times a week I think about the very close alternate universe where Julie Taymor's great vision was realized (positive), where Great Comet kept running for years and years and Rachel Chavkin picked up more off-Broadway work instead of another huge show, where Bono stayed in his fuckin lane and Anais Mitchell never got past that weird concept album

A world in which Reeve Carney is known for his turn for a young man who searches for meaning, opposed at every step by the imposing villain played by Patrick Page

I've heard they were also in this show about Orpheus or something? Whatever. But everybody knows them by their most important roles in one of the most successful shows of the 21st century:

Peter Parker and Norman Osborn in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

[sophia-sol]

@bookelfe replied to your post “@pilferingapples replied to your post “Pastwatch: The Redemption of...”

this question was not addressed to me but boy do i have THOUGHTS and OPINIONS about kage baker's company books! (my thoughts and opinions boil down to 'i love them dearly but don't know if i can actively recommend them to anybody due to the way the entire series dramatically crashes and burns at the end)

thank you for saying something! a disaster of an ending is notttt exactly a draw, so that’s good to know