#books about brothers

[checkoutmybookshelf]

THE HARD COPY IS FINALLY HERE!!!! Y'all...I bought this book twice. Once in like May of 2023 because I wanted to read it and the only way to do that was via ebook. The problem is, I detest ebooks (no judgement whatsoever for those of you who prefer ebooks, I just don't. Personal preference, not sweeping judgement). Then I bought the hardcopy when it was released in December of 2023...only because I'm in Canada, it took A SOLID MONTH to get here. Amazon needs to get it together, because otherwise I'm just going to start paying international shipping to Barnes and Noble or something (I'd have had my local indie shop order it in, but they couldn't, so I was stuck with the bastions of capitalism 🤮).

I've already done a post on this book, but the TLDR is that is GREAT and everyone should go read it.

[egophiliac]

don't think I'm not still deep in the episode 7 brainrot. because OH BOY AM I

(also one more extremely, obnoxiously self-referential thing, I'm -- I'm so sorry)

[sugarcoatednightshade]

thinking about how Humans Are Space Orcs stories always talk about how indestructible humans are, our endurance, our ability to withstand common poisons, etc. and thats all well and good, its really fun to read, but it gets repetitive after a while because we aren't all like that.

And that got me thinking about why this trope is so common in the first place, and the conclusion I came to is actually kind of obvious if you think about it. Not everyone is allowed to go into space. This is true now, with the number of physical restrictions placed on astronauts (including height limits), but I imagine it's just as strict in some imaginary future where humans are first coming into contact with alien species. Because in that case there will definitely be military personnel alongside any possible diplomatic parties.

And I imagine that all interactions aliens have ever had up until this point have been with trained personnel. Even basic military troops conform to this standard, to some degree. So aliens meet us and they're shocked and horrified to discover that we have no obvious weaknesses, we're all either crazy smart or crazy strong (still always a little crazy, academia and war will do that to you), and not only that but we like, literally all the same height so there's no way to tell any of us apart.

And Humans Are Death Worlders stories spread throughout the galaxy. Years or decades or centuries of interspecies suspicion and hostilities preventing any alien from setting foot/claw/limb/appendage/etc. on Earth until slowly more beings are allowed to come through. And not just diplomats who keep to government buildings, but tourists. Exchange students. Temporary visitors granted permission to go wherever they please, so they go out in search of 'real terran culture' and what do they find?

Humans with innate heart defects that prevent them from drinking caffeine. Humans with chronic pain and chronic fatigue who lack the boundless endurance humans are supposedly famous for. Humans too tall or too short or too fat to be allowed into space. Humans who are so scared of the world they need to take pills just to function. Humans with IBS who can't stand spicy foods, capsaicin really is poison to them. Lactose intolerance and celiac disease, my god all the autoimmune disorders out there, humans who struggle to function because their own bodies fight them. Humans who bruise easily and take too long to heal. Humans who sustained one too many concussions and now struggle to talk and read and write. Humans who've had strokes. Humans who were born unable to talk or hear or speak, and humans who through some accident lost that ability later.

Aliens visit Earth, and do you know what they find? Humanity, in all its wholeness.

[atihkinsam]

The reason wincest WORKS and is valid and the people who like it are not insane/incestuous (even though some losers *read hellers* may disagree) is solely because of jared and jensen and THEIR dynamic and the energy they put into THEIR characters.

Also read: these characters who are brothers are FICTIONAL. They are not Real People.

Anyone who has siblings can attest to the fact that regular run-of-the-mill normal siblings do not act like Sam/Dean in any way. Not even close. Canon salmondean relationship weirdness/gencest/weirdcest crawled so that fanon wincest could walk. Why is this hard to wrap your head around. People who enjoy/ship wincest are not gross incestuous fucks. They are people who read into the subtext (and sometimes even the in-your-face text) on a Gothic horror show about Super Weird brothers cruising through the American country to kill things that go bump in the night.

Because really, do you and your brother/sister run around doing absolutely everything together? Do you self insert yourself into your sibling's life because you want to have the absolute final say about their actions and decisions?? Forsake multiple romantic relationships in favour of being with each other??? Coop up, isolate yourselves and play house with each other and compare yourselves to married couples/people in relationships???? because if you do, YOU ARE WEIRD much like sam and dean.

Real non-incestuous siblings are usually Normal About Each Other. Get that through your thick skull.

Calling wincesties incestuous is YOUR weirdass incest projections. The call is coming from inside the house.

[awtysm-cryptid]

You ever think about how Stan must've read about Ford's "Muse" and had to come to the realisation that his brother wasn't talking about a pretty lady but

HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE MURDEROUS TRIANGLE

[legobiwan]

This is such a telling page for Ford. Not only does he detail his social missteps and admit to being lonely in Gravity Falls, despite the scientific wonder of the place, but he also uses what I call "Fordese 2," a scrambled version of the "Fordese 1" code we were first introduced to in Journal 3 to label himself a "six-fingered freak" and to state that "Stanley would have made her laugh." (Her, being the waitress Ford tries out his nerdy science joke on, which goes down like a lead balloon despite the fact that it is legitimately funny, given the right audience).

It's like Bill says. "Ego of a king. The insecurity of a circus freak. And totally isolated..." (Funny enough, Bill could probably turn those exact words on himself, as well.)

Ford so wanted Gravity Falls to be the place where he'd finally fit in, the puzzle to his misshapen puzzle piece.

And as we see in the missing Journal pages from BoB, that was not to be the case. And worst of all? Ford blames it on his hands at first, but the reality is that he says that "Stanley could make her laugh," meaning Ford's "freakishness" (as he would put it) has less to do with his six fingers and much more to do with Ford's personality and the way he interacts with others.

This is actually worse. Fingers, you can fix, if you want to. By the time you're an adult, most people probably wouldn't care. But to Ford, his fingers seem to be more a manifestation of something internal, something he feels is fundamentally broken about him and that's just the absolute worst hell to be stuck in.

So yeah, it's hardly surprising Ford fell so hard for Bill's shenanigans (and you can define "fell so hard" however you want, although that karaoke page in BoB is especially damning). Here's an interdimensional being who not only can guide you to unlocking the secrets of the universe and propel you towards scientific fame and glory (and thus shoving every taunt, invective, side-eye, and eye roll ever hurled at you over the decades down your tormentors' throats) - but he's (on the surface) completely glib about being a freak himself.

For Ford, this must have been like finding a shady, sparkling oasis after thirty years of trawling through the desert (especially after Stanley's "betrayal" - Stanley, who along with Fiddleford, being the only person Ford felt like he could be himself around and still be accepted as a human being).

Now, is Bill trying way too hard to show how much he doesn't care? Uhhh, yeah. Bill has almost the same hangups as Ford. Labeled a freak for a genetic mutation and ostracized by his peers. Has a rare gift in that he can see not only into the third dimension but can see even past that, into possible dimensions and futures, which is a wild skill to have. Compare this with Ford's gigantic science brain and academic overachievement. Same deal. And not only this! Bill, in an attempt to prove what he can do with his "freakishness," to prove his worth and place in the universe - he tries to show off something to the denizens of his dimension (we don't know yet what Bill did), only to end up slaughtering his entire dimension. Ford was a hair's breath away from doing the exact same thing with the portal. Because we know from Journal 3 that part of his motivation is to be famous and get accolades for his work, and that maybe "girls will finally talk to me." (Which, Fordsy, let's be real here - I don't think you're actually into these "girls" for real, but you want the acceptance that comes with fitting in with societal standards, and getting a state-sanctioned girlfriend is exactly the type of thing Ford would want to make himself feel "normal.")

Anyway, the point being that if Ford had succeeded with his initial portal attempt, he would have basically wiped out his own dimension. Just. Like. Bill. And it makes you wonder - yeah, yeah, Bill wanted to party, Bill needed out of the Nightmare Realm, Bill's a psychopath who enjoys destruction.

But honestly? I think part it all was that Bill wanted someone like him. His own puzzle piece. Another monster. A being whose collateral damage in the quest to justify their existence in this universe ends in wholesale slaughter.

And Ford had the capacity to easily fit that mould.

[knockknockwhosthereartistism]

Ford loving his 6 fingered cat cause I’m tired of his mis-characterization

[ricky-mortis]

Curtwen Week Day 4: Haunted

[mischas]

The O.C. 1.02 The Model Home

[roseworth]

based on a convo with my brother

[ahfrickenfrick]

I feel like jason would be the one to recommend books to damian

And not any classical/non-fiction stuff, as the kid had already read that kind of stuff, but his favorites from when he himself was a kid

the outsiders; that one got jason a knife thrown at him from a red-eyed 12 year old… who then proceeded to sit down and talk with jason for hours about the book, and a few nights later they watch the movie

jason was going to be gone for a month, an outlaws thing, and decided to give the kid a series to start going through, percy jackson. by the time jason comes back, the kid just shoves a notebook in his hands. damian had written detailed notes, when there was misinformation, and of course; why he loved certain parts. they spend a few hours discussing again. over the next week the watch the movies. ‘what was that abomination?! if i hadn’t read the books it would be… okay i suppose.., but it’s not book accurate’ and then the TV show, ‘tt, better than the movies’

the giver; jason read this one WITH damian, remembering that he loved the book, but not much else of it. they would sit for some time before and after patrol reading together to unwind, which lead to finishing the book quickly, and then watching the movie. ‘why is there a film for everything?’ ‘fine we’ll turn it off-’ ‘that’s not what i said! don’t!!’

jason felt his heart swell when he came to his room and found the first three books to the series of unfortunate events. which has been on his list but he’s been a bit busy with yk, being dead and the trauma after yada yada yada, jason’s trying not to dwell on that part too much

he was just really happy with having time to just read and enjoy himself again, especially with his little brother

[checkoutmybookshelf]

The Cassidy Brothers

CE Murphy is a favorite on this blog, to the point that I, a strict physical book reader, was so amped for this new book that I caved and bought the e-book (with the intention to also purchase a physical copy when those come out, because we must have standards and frankly reading on the Kindle app on any device is a goddamn nightmare and I hate it). Then I was so caught up in the exploits of the Cassidy Brothers that I inhaled this book between tasks for a wedding I was helping to throw. Let's talk Through the Fire.

This book is NOT Supernatural fanfic. Anybody on the internet saying that a) doesn't know what they're talking about, b) doesn't understand how copyright and publishing laws work, and c) needs to stop saying that. Plus, I tried for years to like Supernatural (Dean Winchester is very pretty to look at) and never managed to do it. Through the Fire had me at hello.

What this book IS is an exploration of Chris and Nick Cassidy as they come back together after a three-year estrangement to "bury" their father. Their dad made a living as a bounty hunter for both common criminals and grendels (I could define this for you, but I won't. Read the book.). Chris was pulled into the family business and into raising his younger brother after their mother's death. Then emotions get complicated when Chris so successfully raises his brother that Nick gets into college and is 3/4 of the way into med school when they have to come back together.

That's about all I'm going to give you for plot though, because--and I cannot stress this enough--I STRONGLY recommend reading this book.

I will say, however, that the sometimes cruel and sometimes tender but always deeply loving relationship between these brothers was the heart and soul of the book, and it pulled me through as a reader without my even noticing. The sheer immersion was excellent.

The other real strength of this book was the feeling of trying to be between and navigate class. Nick was raised in a family that was perpetually short of money, but in college he clearly learned fast how to pass in a more affluent world. Murphy slams those two worlds together and doesn't for a moment shy away from the fallout and emotional toll of that collision. Honestly my favorite moments were, in no particular order, a rich student saying "My parents can make it right with the school if I miss my midterms" and the exchange about painting cars properly yourself, followed by "Why don't you just take it to a shop?" The silence and cringe were PALPABLE.

Books about brothers are not new, but it's rare that I gravitate toward them. If I could yeet this book into readers' brains (the story though, not the physical book. We do not yeet physical books at people's heads.), I absolutely would, because the story of these two brothers is just that good.

[egophiliac]

Hello ! I positively adore the running joke of Idia unknowingly finding Lilia to be the coolest guy ever whenever he doesn't know it's him, like when Silver described his father, or obviously with muscle red. I can't say what'd be funnier, Idia finding out his online best friend is actually Lilia, resident spooky hyper fairy; or them both never finding out, and it'd become even more ridiculous as time goes on. How do you think it'll play out ? You're always so on point

(Also, though it makes sense, I'm still devastated bat boy didn't get a ticket for the Halloween skeleton train : ( does anyone mentions him at some point ? Like how he'd have fit right in with all those Halloween town little freaks, and how he'd have impressed them with his spooks and scared techniques; after all he's been every Briar Valley's children worst fear on Halloween for centuries. I'm on the eng server and I didn't wanna spoil myself by watching the whole thing on youtube)

Have a nice day !

you and me both, Idia and Lilia being oblivious online BFFs (+ Idia being incredibly intimidated any time Silver brings up his jock gamer dad) is my favorite running joke/subplot. 🤝 it's SO good, to the point where I also am unsure if I actually want it to ever be resolved or not...maybe, like, as a post-canon stinger or something? everyone's standing around covered in overblot ink, and Idia and Lilia's phones go off at the same time...

(legit I do think this is part of why Idia couldn't be present for Lilia's dream, because for some reason Lilia decided he was going to just. embody his past self online. he probably quotes his own battle strategies or whatever in the middle of boss fights. Idia didn't pick up on the whole "oh how weird that we both live on a super remote island" thing, but he would spend thirty seconds listening to General Lilia describing siege warfare and be like "w-wait")

all that aside, however it does end up happening, I do see Lilia being very blasé and all "oh! cool!" about it. y'know, taking it very much in stride! and Idia...very much not.

(can't tell if tumblr is going to chew this into illegibility or not, this will be a fun surprise ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ)

as for Lilia sadly missing out on Halloweentown shenanigans...he does get one little mention as part of an offhand reference to the light music club, but so far no one has brought up how this basically is just Lost In the Book of Liliatown (Sebek's been too busy yelling about not getting to be in the same group as Malleus). 😔 honestly though, it's probably for the best that he got left out, because he would just settle right in and refuse to ever leave. canon would shatter. we would miss out on all the delightful angst of episode 7 because Lilia is too busy eating poisonous shrubbery inbetween practicing his very best screams, and no one can pull him away from it.

(I can hope for a sequel next year though...)

[confused-stars]

shoutout to Jake Animorphs for being kinda uninteresting for like forty books and then hitting you so hard when he fully snaps and steps into his role as a hardened military leader at the age of sixteen

and then suddenly that sweet, stressed-out kid is just gone. he only exists to win wars anymore. it makes you realize too late what was lost

[clouwn-core]

*Major Book 6 Spoilers

*i loved this chapter and therefore had to create a tragic animatic for my favorite sibling duo in twst

*specifying again that this is NOT shroudcest or romantic in any way shape or form ‼️‼️‼️ shroudcest freaks dni

*favorite frames and stuff underneath the cut :3

*shroud brothers ilysm please seek therapy and find happiness

*some of the best idia ive ever drawn btw

[havendance]

I think we should torture Dick by coming up with an AU where Tim's the one to get dealt the faked death/undercover in spyral thing instead. Like, congratulations man! You're the last one standing. (Well, except for Jason I suppose but Jason's probably causing problems on purpose.) You've won an even bigger than usual guilt complex. No, you can't opt out.