#bookl

[gardenfeather-book-reviews]

"The Spirit Bares its Teeth" by Andrew Joseph White

Silas Bell, a young autistic transgender man living in the 1880s in England, wants to be a surgeon. Not a wife and mother. After a botched escape from a future devoted to a husband, he is diagnosed with “veil sickness,” a disease that causes violet eyed women to open the veil and communicate with the dead, an act that is illegal for women to do. 

        He is sent to Braxton's Finishing School and Sanatorium and engaged to a wealthy lord's son. But Braxton might not be what it seems. And Silas is the only one who can save the life of his new friends by uncovering the secrets of the school, all while fighting the voice in his head telling him to just do as he is told. For Silas, doing as he is told is not an option.

        Andrew Joseph White has crafted an incredible story. All of the characters are complex and every character has so much depth. White is able to balance the main character, Silas, with all aspects of his identity. They are all woven throughout the story in an authentic way that gives him personality outside of those defining traits while still acknowledging how important they are. It is one of the best representations of autism I have ever read.

       The setting and accuracy to historical detail makes the stakes seem real and send you to the time period. He uses the time period to bring light to the story he wants to tell. His use of imagery is terrific. 

        White is able to discuss so many important topics throughout the book, all of which apply in some way to our society today. He somehow is able to highlight and tackle each complex theme in one book while giving them each the space to be recognized for their individual importance.  

        Gory and dense while also romantic, The Spirit Bares its Teeth is an amazing novel with an incredible message to fight for your life and happiness, even if the whole world is against you.   

[nurhadin17]

If cats disappeared from the world - Genki Kawamura

[manuscripts-dontburn]

Bookhaul July 2024

(Failed my challenge this month because of a trip to Prague and free shipping from a second-hand bookstore. Not sorry.)

New books

Rasputin's Killer and his Romanov Princess

The Last Song of Penelope

The Lost Journals of Sacajewea

Isabel and the Rogue

The Moonlight Market

Babylonia

Palestine

Sophie Scholl and the White Rose

Procitají andělé

Firebrand

My Darling Dreadful Thing

Chinese Cinderella

Secondhand books

The Book Eaters

The Marrow Thieves

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

The Land of Narnia

A Sting in the Tale

Running in the Family

Sacajawea

Crook Manifesto

The Samurai's Garden

The Self-Portrait: A Cultural History

Religion and the Decline of Magic: Studies in Popular Beliefs in Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century England

[thecasualbookreviewer]

On the stage, you must be fearless.

If we were villains, M.L. Rio

[miribooksies]

Girl, Interrupted (book)- Susanna Kaysen

The book arrived at 3 and I finished it at around 8 or 9. Personally, I think people make it seem darker than it actually is, but maybe it’s because, as the author says very often, “I’m crazy ”. The blatant honesty of the author's storytelling, betrayed by the major yet omitted details, pulled me to read more and to understand.

I really enjoyed the book, and although I have never been hospitalized, I did find myself hooked on how she perceived everything. She starts off by talking about how mental hospitals, prisons, and institutions of that sort have their own reality, where you can still see the real world but you can’t actually talk to it. It feels like a promise, because for the rest of the memoir she demonstrates exactly that. The characters felt fleshed out and true, yet it felt like such a foreign version of them, just as the rooms of the hospital were.

My favorite chapters were “Velocity vs. Viscosity” and “Mind vs. Brain”, it really reflects the inner workings of how it feels to live consistently with mental illness, its waves and its rhythms, and how the world can perceive you for it, and whether or not it truly does any good. I also enjoyed finding the deeper meaning of the title, but you'll have to read it for that <3

It was also refreshing to see a book that saw mental illness in a less "pretty" way, because although this book is heavily influenced with the stigmas of the late 60s, it lacks the romantic lenses the 20th century has raised me with (very, Very harmful in its own way). Rather than seeing mental illness as something noble, it sees it as tainting. I don’t think either way is particularly helpful, but it was interesting seeing the other side of things. (in case there is confusion, my main source of mental illness talk was online, which seemed to make it seem like something humble. As if wanting yourself dead made you attractive and lovely. I believed it then. I hope you do not fall to the same viewpoint)

If you like unfiltered truth, mental hospitals (?), and peering into someone’s head, consider giving this a read, it’s such a short and worthwhile one! I'll def watch the movie later on and maybe give my thoughts on it too :)

And Remember, you can always make a life out of boys and literature, even if there aren’t many boys around.

[outsassing-nero]

05.07.24// had a really productive week and managed to write quite an important part of the introduction to one of my phd sections :) I'm also currently revising my talk for the phd student conference on monday!

listening to: sixtones - fast lane

[oakendesk]

Man's Book Feb 1969

Norman Saunders

[mostly-tame]

This is short notice but I wasn't expecting any snow in time for cute winter postcards this year sO in very typical adhd fashion;

Any mutuals want Torch postcards? 👀 comment or message me if so! I'll probably ship them late next week, but that depends on the timing and adhd

[canisalbus]

I've followed your art for I think a handful of years now across a few accounts/platforms and while I always admired and love your art, i just wanted to say how much I ADORE your Vasco and Machete art. They bring me so much joy and I keep sending them to my girlfriend who isn't on Tumblr. I love learning more about them!! I love seeing them interact!!! I want to know more but I'm awful at coming up with Good Questions so also a big thank you to the other people prompting more art and info about them!!

That's so sweet, thank you! I'm glad to hear you like them! ;_;

Somehow it always makes me just a little bit emotional when people tell me they're showing my art to their non-tumblr friends and family.

[mercutiotakethewheel]

a small character study (in honor of the marriage kefta photo)

[booktineus]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bec 📖 (@booktineus)

[space-diablo]

I decided.. that it's finished and I like it.

[ohboycharlie]

Hey guys. This is kind of urgent.

Hey guys!! I have recently opened a Tumblr account to express the things I have written. I would appreciate it if you would like the posts!! (Ps: I lied on my CV that I post on my Tumblr and now they are asking for proof so please 💀🙏) @manasv1

[moonlightmoors]

The Darkling's just a repressed theater kid fr

[mostlynatur3]

[malewife-darkling]

Posts Aleksander Morozova would write