#books science religion dialogue

[trentdeestephens]

Website : https://www.trentdeestephens.com/

Trent Dee Stephens, PhD, is an author who intricately weaves scientific principles with religious concepts. His books and website content delve into the harmonious relationship between science and religion, offering readers a unique perspective on understanding these fields in unison. As an experienced biologist and a person of faith, Stephens provides enriching content that appeals to those curious about the intersection of science, religion, and philosophy.

Amazon : https://www.amazon.com/stores/Trent-Stephens/author/B001KCP11A

Keywords :

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[blackwoolncrown]

Reading list for Afro-Herbalism:

A Healing Grove: African Tree Remedies and Rituals for the Body and Spirit by Stephanie Rose Bird

Affrilachia: Poems by Frank X Walker

African American Medicine in Washington, D.C.: Healing the Capital During the Civil War Era by Heather Butts

African American Midwifery in the South: Dialogues of Birth, Race, and Memory by Gertrude Jacinta Fraser

African American Slave Medicine: Herbal and Non-Herbal Treatments by Herbert Covey

African Ethnobotany in the Americas edited by Robert Voeks and John Rashford

Africanisms in the Gullah Dialect by Lorenzo Dow Turner

Africans and Native Americans: The Language of Race and the Evolution of Red-Black Peoples by Jack Forbes

African Medicine: A Complete Guide to Yoruba Healing Science and African Herbal Remedies by Dr. Tariq M. Sawandi, PhD

Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh, African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed by Bryant Terry

Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston

Big Mama’s Back in the Kitchen by Charlene Johnson

Big Mama’s Old Black Pot by Ethel Dixon

Black Belief: Folk Beliefs of Blacks in America and West Africa by Henry H. Mitchell

Black Diamonds, Vol. 1 No. 1 and Vol. 1 Nos. 2–3 edited by Edward J. Cabbell

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Carolyn Finney

Black Food Geographies: Race, Self-Reliance, and Food Access in Washington, D.C. by Ashanté M. Reese

Black Indian Slave Narratives edited by Patrick Minges

Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition by Yvonne P. Chireau

Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry edited by Camille T. Dungy

Blacks in Appalachia edited by William Turner and Edward J. Cabbell

Caribbean Vegan: Meat-Free, Egg-Free, Dairy-Free Authentic Island Cuisine for Every Occasion by Taymer Mason

Dreams of Africa in Alabama: The Slave Ship Clotilda and the Story of the Last Africans Brought to America by Sylviane Diouf

Faith, Health, and Healing in African American Life by Emilie Townes and Stephanie Y. Mitchem

Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman

Folk Wisdom and Mother Wit: John Lee – An African American Herbal Healer by John Lee and Arvilla Payne-Jackson

Four Seasons of Mojo: An Herbal Guide to Natural Living by Stephanie Rose Bird

Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement by Monica White

Fruits of the Harvest: Recipes to Celebrate Kwanzaa and Other Holidays by Eric Copage

George Washington Carver by Tonya Bolden

George Washington Carver: In His Own Words edited by Gary Kremer

God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man: A Saltwater Geechee Talks About Life on Sapelo Island, Georgia by Cornelia Bailey

Gone Home: Race and Roots through Appalachia by Karida Brown

Ethno-Botany of the Black Americans by William Ed Grime

Gullah Cuisine: By Land and by Sea by Charlotte Jenkins and William Baldwin

Gullah Culture in America by Emory Shaw Campbell and Wilbur Cross

Gullah/Geechee: Africa’s Seeds in the Winds of the Diaspora-St. Helena’s Serenity by Queen Quet Marquetta Goodwine

High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America by Jessica Harris and Maya Angelou

Homecoming: The Story of African-American Farmers by Charlene Gilbert

Hoodoo Medicine: Gullah Herbal Remedies by Faith Mitchell

Jambalaya: The Natural Woman’s Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals by Luisah Teish

Just Medicine: A Cure for Racial Inequality in American Health Care by Dayna Bowen Matthew

Leaves of Green: A Handbook of Herbal Remedies by Maude E. Scott

Like a Weaving: References and Resources on Black Appalachians by Edward J. Cabbell

Listen to Me Good: The Story of an Alabama Midwife by Margaret Charles Smith and Linda Janet Holmes

Making Gullah: A History of Sapelo Islanders, Race, and the American Imagination by Melissa Cooper

Mandy’s Favorite Louisiana Recipes by Natalie V. Scott

Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet Washington

Mojo Workin’: The Old African American Hoodoo System by Katrina Hazzard-Donald

Motherwit: An Alabama Midwife’s Story by Onnie Lee Logan as told to Katherine Clark

My Bag Was Always Packed: The Life and Times of a Virginia Midwife by Claudine Curry Smith and Mildred Hopkins Baker Roberson

My Face Is Black Is True: Callie House and the Struggle for Ex-Slave Reparations by Mary Frances Berry

My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem

On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker by A'Lelia Bundles

Papa Jim’s Herbal Magic Workbook by Papa Jim

Places for the Spirit: Traditional African American Gardens by Vaughn Sills (Photographer), Hilton Als (Foreword), Lowry Pei (Introduction)

Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy DeGruy

Rooted in the Earth: Reclaiming the African American Environmental Heritage by Diane Glave

Rufus Estes’ Good Things to Eat: The First Cookbook by an African-American Chef by Rufus Estes

Secret Doctors: Ethnomedicine of African Americans by Wonda Fontenot

Sex, Sickness, and Slavery: Illness in the Antebellum South by Marli Weiner with Mayzie Hough

Slavery’s Exiles: The Story of the American Maroons by Sylviane Diouf

Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time by Adrian Miller

Spirituality and the Black Helping Tradition in Social Work by Elmer P. Martin Jr. and Joanne Mitchell Martin

Sticks, Stones, Roots & Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo & Conjuring with Herbs by Stephanie Rose Bird

The African-American Heritage Cookbook: Traditional Recipes and Fond Remembrances from Alabama’s Renowned Tuskegee Institute by Carolyn Quick Tillery

The Black Family Reunion Cookbook (Recipes and Food Memories from the National Council of Negro Women) edited by Libby Clark

The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales by Charles Chesnutt

The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature by J. Drew Lanham

The Jemima Code: Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin

The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas by Adrian Miller

The Taste of Country Cooking: The 30th Anniversary Edition of a Great Classic Southern Cookbook by Edna Lewis

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study: An Insiders’ Account of the Shocking Medical Experiment Conducted by Government Doctors Against African American Men by Fred D. Gray

Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape by Lauret E. Savoy

Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine by Bryant Terry

Vibration Cooking: Or, The Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl by Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor

Voodoo and Hoodoo: The Craft as Revealed by Traditional Practitioners by Jim Haskins

When Roots Die: Endangered Traditions on the Sea Islands by Patricia Jones-Jackson

Working Conjure: A Guide to Hoodoo Folk Magic by Hoodoo Sen Moise

Working the Roots: Over 400 Years of Traditional African American Healing by Michelle Lee

Wurkn Dem Rootz: Ancestral Hoodoo by Medicine Man

Zora Neale Hurston: Folklore, Memoirs, and Other Writings: Mules and Men, Tell My Horse, Dust Tracks on a Road, Selected Articles by Zora Neale Hurston

The Ways of Herbalism in the African World with Olatokunboh Obasi MSc, RH (webinar via The American Herbalists Guild)

[pigeonflavouredcake]

My Grimoire Research Library

this is a list of my major resource I've referenced/am currently referencing in my big grimoire project. For books I'll be linking the Goodreads page, for pdfs, websites and videos i'll link them directly.

There are plenty of generalised practitioner resources that can work for everyone but as I have Irish ancestry and worship Hellenic deities quite a few of my resources are centred around Celtic Ireland, ancient Greece and the Olympic mythos. If you follow other sects of paganism you are more than welcome to reblog with your own list of resources.

Parts of my grimoire discuss topics of new age spiritualism, dangerous conspiracy theories, and bigotry in witchcraft so some resources in this list focus on that.

Books

Apollodorus - The Library of Greek Mythology

Astrea Taylor - Intuitive Witchcraft

Dee Dee Chainey & Willow Winsham - Treasury of Folklore: Woodlands and Forests

John Ferguson - Among The Gods: An Archaeological Exploration of Ancient Greek Religion

Katharine Briggs - The Fairies in Tradition and Literature

Kevin Danaher - The Year in Ireland: Irish Calendar Customs

Laura O'Brien - Fairy Faith in Ireland

Lindsey C. Watson - Magic in Ancient Greece and Rome

Nicholas Culpeper - Culpeper's Complete Herbal

Plutarch - The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek Lives

R.B. Parkinson - A Little Gay History: Desire and Diversity Around the World

Rachel Patterson - Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Tarot Journey to Self-Awareness

Raleigh Briggs - Make Your Place: Affordable & Sustainable Nesting Skills

Robin Wall Kimmerer - Braiding Sweetgrass

Ronald Hutton - The Witch: A History of Fear in Ancient Times

Rosemary Ellen Guiley - The Encyclopaedia of Witches and Witchcraft

Thomas N. Mitchell - Athens: A History of the World's First Democracy

Walter Stephens - Demon Lovers: Witchcraft S3x and the Crisis of Belief

Yvonne P. Chireau - Black Magic: Religion and The African American Conjuring Tradition

PDFs

Anti Defamation League - Hate on Display: Hate Symbols Database

Brandy Williams - White Light, Black Magic: Racism in Esoteric Thought

Cambridge SU Women’s Campaign - How to Spot TERF Ideology 2.0.

Blogs and Websites

Anti Defamation League

B. Ricardo Brown - Until Darwin: Science and the Origins of Race

Dr. S. Deacon Ritterbush - Dr Beachcomb

Folklore Thursday

Freedom of Mind Resource Centre - Steven Hassan’s BITE Model of Authoritarian Control

Institute for Strategic Dialogue

Royal Horticultural Society

The Duchas Project -National Folklore Collection

Vivienne Mackie - Vivscelticconnections

YouTube Videos

ContraPoints - Gender Critical

Emma Thorne Videos - Christian Fundie Says Halloween is SATANIC!

Owen Morgan (Telltale) - The Source Of All Conspiracies: A 1902 Document Called "The Protocols"

The Belief it or Not Podcast - Ep. 40 Satanic Panic, Ep 92. Wicca

Wendigoon - The Conspiracy Theory Iceberg

Other videos I haven't referenced but you may still want to check out

Atun-Shei Films - Ancient Aryans: The History of Crackpot N@zi Archaeology

Belief It Or Not - Ep. 90 - Logical Fallacies

Dragon Talisman - Tarot Documentary (A re-upload of the 1997 documentary Strictly Supernatural: Tarot and Astrology)

Lindsay Ellis - Tracing the Roots of Pop Culture Transphobia

Overly Sarcastic Productions - Miscellaneous Myths Playlist

Owen Morgan (Telltale) - SATANIC PANIC! 90s Video Slanders Satanists | Pagan Invasion Saga | Part 1

ReignBot - How Ouija Boards Became "Evil" | Obscura Archive Ep. 2

Ryan Beard - Demi Lovato Promoted a R4cist Lizard Cult

Super Eyepatch Wolf - The Bizarre World of Fake Psychics, Faith Healers and Mediums

Weird Reads with Emily Louise -The Infamous Hoaxes Iceberg Playlist

Wendigoon - The True Stories of the Warren Hauntings: The Conjuring, Annabelle, Amityville, and Other Encounters

[astriiformes]

what's the Galileo tea? 👀 (got any Articles?? this sounds much more interesting than my soil readings lol)

I don't have any good articles on hand, although I think Patricia Fara's Science: A Four-Thousand Year History has one of the better (brief) accounts in as far as summarizing some of the main issues.

The short of it is that Galileo was definitely not the most diplomatic guy around, and also very entrenched in the complex, factional politics of the day -- what we now call the Galilean moons of Jupiter, he originally named the "Medicean stars" in an attempt to flatter the powerful Medici family. He was decidedly interested in climbing ladders, independent of his science, and used the latter in an attempt to accomplish the former, which may be one reason he wasn't opposed to stirring up controversy. It gets you noticed.

There's a whole string of off-ramps that could have prevented his trial, but one of the ones that stands out most to me is the way he chose to present his ideas (which is exactly why all this drives me crazy as a science communicator). In The Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems -- the book that really landed him in trouble -- he presents arguments for both the heliocentric Copernican and geocentric Aristotelian systems through two fictional characters. Which sounds measured, until you learn the character representing the Aristotelian system is named "Simplicio" in what really feels like an elaborate method of insulting anyone who disagreed with him.

Which. I cannot emphasize enough. Up until this book was published, the current Pope had actually been a patron of Galileo's, who permitted him to explore the heliocentric hypothesis so long as it was treated as a thought experiment. Galileo decided the best response to this was to put the Pope's own viewpoint in the mouth of a character named "simpleton" who ended up being ridiculed by the others by the end of the book. Really great move. No one could have forseen this backfiring.

Another thing that isn't mentioned often is that Galileo's trial wasn't a unanimous decision. There was actually some sympathy for his arguments, and for the heliocentric model (Copernicus' On the Revolution of the Celestial Spheres was also controversial -- though some of that controversy was a direct result of the Galileo affair -- but people liked that it was better for calendrical calculations!) and the decision was by no means a totally inevitable one. If he hadn't presented his ideas the way he had, who knows what would have happened. Again, I would never point to a single event as the reason for the religion/science rift that exists today. But at the same time, imagine where we might be if the trial had gone differently.

[basicsofislam]

ISLAM 101: ISLAM AND OTHER RELIGIONS: DIALOGUE: Part 8

Interreligious Dialogue: Part 1

Who suggested interreligious dialogue first? Who has advocated it so far? What are the real aims of those who started it? What has been done to realize this up to now?

Let's leave these questions and similar ones aside for a moment and suppose that we come across an idea like this for the first time, and try to determine what our attitude should be against dialogue.

We should state immediately that it is not right to answer this question positively or negatively without thinking and hastily. As the followers of the only true religion in the world we are expected to answer this question as yes principally; however, what is important here is who we shall make a dialogue with.

The people to represent Muslims in these dialogues should practice the essentials of Islam exactly, should perfect their hearts, minds and all of their feelings with the beauties of this religion, and should serve as examples to people who need Islam. If they can manage it, the following conditional good news of Badiuzzaman will be realized:

If we show the perfection of the realities of belief and the Islamic ethic by our actions, the followers of other religions will embrace Islam in groups. Maybe some continents and states of the earth will embrace Islam (Tarihçe-i Hayat, 90) When the dialogue starts after we reach this point, it will be useful. Today's western community, which is seeking the truth but cannot find it because it cannot find the ideal system of belief and sample people who show it, and which retires into its shell and resorts to debauchery and faithlessness, can only meet the reality through such a dialogue. They can meet the Quran, which was sent to guide the human beings and the jinns; they can be honored to be a member of the ummah of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), who was sent as a mercy for all creatures.

Thus to oppose to the dialogue despite having enough accumulation of knowledge means to show Muslims as negative stereotypes who meet and talk to only each other, who do not need to give something to others who are full while their neighbors are hungry, who are so egoist as to think it as a good deed to leave the needy hungry and who are so contrary to Islam. To behave like that is a great sin.

The following divine address to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) is as valid today: Say: "O people of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not from among ourselves Lords and patrons other than Allah." (Aal-e-Imran, 64)

Now let's think like this:

Doesn't the belief of trinity still prevail in the world of Christianity? Doesn't this belief mean to accept beings other than Allah as deities, to become polytheists Since the illness continues, the address to the prophet to call others to Islam also calls today's Muslims to negotiate with the People of the Book, doesn't it? Muslims have great responsibilities to this effect as they have in other issues. As a matter of fact, public-spirited, hardworking and compassionate people with sufficient accumulation of knowledge in religious sciences are working hard and trying to convey the light of Islam to the hearts that need it and trying to take advantage of every opportunity. Interreligious dialogue can be seen as one of those opportunities.

However, the people we are negotiating may want to use the same opportunity to reach their secret aims. Here, it is very important for Muslims to be prudential.

If all of the parties have the same common cause, to find the truth and cooperate against common enemies, in the end, the Truth will predominate and the victorious party of this dialogue will be Muslims.

[almadesarrollo]

MLB SEASON 6 FELINETTE'S BIG TRACK IN JEREMY ZAG'S VIDEO (new Miraculous scenarios via Instagram) ANALYSIS AND FELINETTE CLUES FOR S6 PART 5 marinette's balcony : SHELVING

PART 4: THE CHAIR.

4 THE SHELF: LET'S TALK FIRST ABOUT WHAT'S ON IT AND THEN ABOUT THE DESIGN ITSELF.

-ELEMENTS: we see that there are books, this is a clue to Felix and Felinette, books and literature are the elements that define him, Adrien's Instagram gave clues to this a long time ago.

We have other clues like in the pandemic mini special we see Adrien reading.

which is a great reference for Félix, because remembering that Adrien was born from felix pv and the current Félix was born from Adrien, through Adrien himself they tell us a lot about FELIX.

and another is the startrain episode, where we see Bustier reading a book.

THIS TRAIN TAKES YOU TO LONDON, FELIX'S PLACE OF ORIGIN, (IN FACT, IF WE LOOK AT THAT SEQUENCE IN PARTICULAR, IT IS FELIGAMI TRACK, WE SEE KAGAMI THROUGH NATHANIEL, WHO IS MAKING A PORTRAIT OF THE PROFESSIONAL)

ALL OF THIS MAKES US UNDERSTAND that Félix likes to read, but not only that but he questions things a lot AND IS VERY INTELLIGENT. THIS LATTER IS CONFIRMED IN THE GLOOB WEBSODE.

And if we think about it carefully, the book represents knowledge, which would already tell us a little about him, that he is quite cultured and this aspect may appeal to Marnette quite a bit, she is very smart, so it wouldn't be serious. It's strange that in that area they get along quite a bit, they have that in common, they complement each other quite well, she is an artist completely in the arts and science/letters. Surely the series gives us moments like this fanart from S6 onwards.

Another thing that this is also telling us is that the place where they connect as something more than friends or are friends is the library, in the movie we see that the crush between Adrianette arises in the library, this is no coincidence, remember that the movie drinks from the PV and in the PV the boy was Félix, it seems that the library will be a very important place for Félix and felinette.

-DESIGN

This shelf is NAVY BLUE, whose color is this? aja from SASS and what concept does SASS represent? THE 2nd chance, THEN THE CLUE IS CLEAR, Felix will be the 2nd chance for Marinette after all her friends turn their backs on her, after she breaks up her relationship with Adrien, because it will be unfair for her, everyone is going to fail her, everything but Félix, he will be her best friend and she will feel that she will be able to trust someone again after everyone fails her, and she is left completely alone just as we have been predicting.

A shelf serves as a support to put things, mostly books, this is a clear reference to Félix and the library, we have already said that the library would be the place where their friendship would arise and where they would connect for the first time, right? Let's see what THE SEQUENCE OF THE MOVIE and ITS DIALOGUES TELL US.

----------------------------------------------

To begin with, Marinette is running away from Chloe, because she is harassing her, this confirms the enmity between Kagami and Marinette, their friendship will be broken, remember that through Chloe we are told about Kagami,

[here is a diagram]

but also, let's look at the dialogues that follow,

This would be confirming to us that because of Kagami she will have to leave Paris, change completely, and hide at all levels, because she will reveal her identity. This sequence confirms what we said in the previous post, Kagami will ruin Marinette's life by revealing her identity to the world and she will have to flee, now we see how she begs for a little luck with her hands almost praying, what is the most popular place? connects with the concept of faith and religion in France?, the cathedral of Notre Dame, is a church, IF YOU READ MY POST, the cathedral is LOCATION Felinette, that is where they will meet as superheroes, the movie gives the clue through from the ladynoir on Adrien's side, so this would give us the clue that with all the chaos at one point she will pray in the cathedral and ask God for a second chance to do things right or simply more luck, the answer will come to his destination Félix, a 2nd chance, we confirm this with the following sequence.

Here I leave you a link where we talk about the cathedral and its importance in felinette. IT IS ALSO NAVY BLUE!!!!

coincidentally, Adrien appears clutching a book AND AS WE SAID THIS IS A REPRESENTATION OF FELIX, SO SHE PRAYES AND FELIX APPEARS "LIKE AN ANGEL"!!! Notice that Adrien is giving him the light, this is also a reference to Felix's purity, he is always surrounded by light, as if he were someone pure, a pure soul, which will help him both in his civil and heroic form (Argos) Félix's presence and help will be healing.

Now Marinette talks about pollen and allergies, here we have a reference to Pollen, the bee kwami ​​and Zoé/Vesperia, confirming that Zoé is clearly a reference to this new Marinette, but this could also mean that the miraculous that Marinette wears is the one with the bee, as a camouflage, we saw this in optigami.

optigami is a play on words between the Spanish word OPTIMO and kagami's name, OPTIMUM MEANS unsurpassed, incredible etc...which if we put everything together it would be telling us that "kagami is unbeatable" well she will be GREAT as a friend and heroine, BUT LET'S GO FURTHER, IN THIS CHAPTER ALYA IS THE CAUSE OF MARINETTE'S BIG PROBLEMS.

Thanks to her decisions, Marinette's identity is once again put in danger and it is almost discovered, but it does not come to this because Marinette realizes the trap, after this, Marinette gives the miraculous to Alya in a FIXED way. , as we know from now on THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVES.

the threat of the monarch knowing his identity and therefore also his life in danger,

her betrayal because in the end she tells the truth to Nino when she should have kept the secret of her camouflage ETC... through the trust that Marinette takes in Alya from optigami, all of them are practically problems that put her identity at risk. Based on this, we can see what the mistake will be, trusting Kagami too much so that at the last moment she betrays her, how? Well, that is a topic for another post, BUT THE MISTAKE SHE COMMITTED WILL LEAD TO HER IDENTITY BEING REVEALED AND THAT IS WHERE SHE WILL MAKE THE DECISION TO BE A HEROINE WITH ANOTHER MIRACULOUS, POLLEN.

Then we see how Marinette spies on him through the books, here it could be a reference to Argos watching and taking care of Marinette from the shadows, because on that path Marinette removes two books of her colors, then immediately she lands on the shopping cart. books, captivated by Adrien's presence.

The cart is used by librarians, it would not be strange for Felix to work in a library being such a lover of reading, or it could be that Mari decides to work in the library whatever it may be, Marinette is going to see the sky when Felix approaches her. It helps by making you connect with him.

We see that when she falls with the cart, a lot of books fall on her, so this is a wake-up call from Felix, and that the series tells us that THE WAY IN WHICH HE WILL PROTECT HER, WILL BE LIKE CHATNOIR BECAUSE FOLLOWING THIS SHE PROTECTS HERSELF WITH A BOOK FROM LE CHATNOIR, the series with this tells you "look, look, chatnoir (Felix) protects Marinette!!! that's why a lot of books fall.

We also have to remember that the drawing of Chatnoir is the drawing that refers to the cafeteria that is next to Marinette's bakery, where he would work, so we confirmed the ladynoir with Chatnoir as Félix.

Then we see how she stops being scared, and we see that he offers to help her, there they connect.

This is basically that the crush between both of them, Felix and Marinette, will occur when he offers to help her, as we say again, he will be salvation in her aid, he will be her support, he will be her assistant, he will be her right hand, the movie itself confirm this:

and that will make her fall in love with him.

NOW THIS IS could be the library or the cathedral itself since the background that surrounds Adrien and the lights that give him resemble a stained glass window like the cathedral.

Now we see Marinette hallucinating and looking at her hand, this could be a clue that Marinette thought she would never have a chance to fall in love again, we have said that Marinette after everything she will experience with Adrien will stop believing in love love , then Félix arrives to prove the opposite, because he has a crush again, she without being able to believe it, life gives Félix a second chance at love...and this crush will be more intense...this will be from S6 ONWARDS.

We see that he disappears after this, this is a reference to how mysterious and silent Felix is, clearly many times Marinette will be protected by Felix/argos/chatnoir but she won't even know it because he will keep an eye on her hidden, so that she is safe, for For example, when you return home at night alone...

SUMMARY S6: WE WILL SEE LADYBEE AFTER THE REVELATION OF MARINETTE'S IDENTITY, THE LIBRARY OR CATHEDRAL OF NOTRE DAME WILL BE KEY IN FELINETTE'S DEVELOPMENT, THIS IS WHERE THEY WILL CONNECT, AS FRIENDS AND SOMETHING MORE, MARINETTE WILL FALL IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT TWICE AND HE WILL BELIEVE IN LOVE, FÉLIX'S ASSISTANCE, HIS INTELLIGENCE, HOW CULTIVATED HE IS AND OTHERS WILL HELP IN THAT PROCESS, THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE MANY THINGS WHY MARINETTE WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM, THE OTHER IS HOW PROTECTIVE HE WILL BE WITH HER. ...

Like, reblog and follow me if you like it and for more content of this type.

See you in future posts.

[lurkingshan]

For the end of the year books, can I ask 3, 9 and 15 please? -☆

Okay, let's see!

3: Top 5 books of the year

Mo Dao Zu Shi: This is not my first go round with this story, but it is the first time I actually got to read the entire book properly in full, thanks to the new official English translations. An all time fav for me that I am now forcing @neuroticbookworm to read.

Murmuration: My first TJ Klune book! Recommended to me by @bengiyo and got me started on reading Klune in general. This one is kind of a period piece, kind of sci fi, kind of romance. It has stuck with me and I won't be forgetting Mike Frazier. It's important to do things right.

Romantic Comedy: A zippy romcom about a comedy writer and the celebrity she accidentally falls in love with entirely against her will. Really fun with great dialogue.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow: Did I like a single character in this book? Not particularly! Did I somehow really enjoy reading it anyway? You bet.

Lord of the White Hell: Another @bengiyo rec! This one is historical fantasy set at an all boys school, the first story in a series of three. There's mystery and religion and science and magic but more than anything, there is off the charts sexual tension.

9: Did you get into any new genres?

Nope, I've pretty much always been a genre hopper.

15. Did you read any books that were nominated for or won awards this year?

Hmm, tbh I don't pay much attention to that kind of thing, and I've always been more of a genre reader than a literary fiction reader. I think the last thing I read that was a major award winner was maybe some of NK Jemison's work (I am obsessed with the Broken Earth trilogy) but that was last year.

Thanks for playing! End of Year Book Ask.

[dreams-of-mutiny]

MORTIMER ADLER’S READING LIST (PART 1)

Reading list from “How To Read a Book” by Mortimer Adler (1972 edition).

Homer: Iliad, Odyssey

The Old Testament

Aeschylus: Tragedies

Sophocles: Tragedies

Herodotus: Histories

Euripides: Tragedies

Thucydides: History of the Peloponnesian War

Hippocrates: Medical Writings

Aristophanes: Comedies

Plato: Dialogues

Aristotle: Works

Epicurus: Letter to Herodotus; Letter to Menoecus

Euclid: Elements

Archimedes: Works

Apollonius of Perga: Conic Sections

Cicero: Works

Lucretius: On the Nature of Things

Virgil: Works

Horace: Works

Livy: History of Rome

Ovid: Works

Plutarch: Parallel Lives; Moralia

Tacitus: Histories; Annals; Agricola Germania

Nicomachus of Gerasa: Introduction to Arithmetic

Epictetus: Discourses; Encheiridion

Ptolemy: Almagest

Lucian: Works

Marcus Aurelius: Meditations

Galen: On the Natural Faculties

The New Testament

Plotinus: The Enneads

St. Augustine: On the Teacher; Confessions; City of God; On Christian Doctrine

The Song of Roland

The Nibelungenlied

The Saga of Burnt Njál

St. Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica

Dante Alighieri: The Divine Comedy;The New Life; On Monarchy

Geoffrey Chaucer: Troilus and Criseyde; The Canterbury Tales

Leonardo da Vinci: Notebooks

Niccolò Machiavelli: The Prince; Discourses on the First Ten Books of Livy

Desiderius Erasmus: The Praise of Folly

Nicolaus Copernicus: On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres

Thomas More: Utopia

Martin Luther: Table Talk; Three Treatises

Francois Rabelais: Gargantua and Pantagruel

John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion

Michel de Montaigne: Essays

William Gilbert: On the Loadstone and Magnetic Bodies

Miguel de Cervantes: Don Quixote

Edmund Spenser: Prothalamion; The Faerie Queene

Francis Bacon: Essays; Advancement of Learning; Novum Organum, The New Atlantis

William Shakespeare: Poetry and Plays

Galileo Galilei: Starry Messenger; Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences

Johannes Kepler: Epitome of Copernican Astronomy; Concerning the Harmonies of the World

William Harvey: On the Motion of the Heart and Blood in Animals; On the Circulation of the Blood; On the Generation of Animals

Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan

René Descartes: Rules for the Direction of the Mind; Discourse on the Method; Geometry; Meditations on First Philosophy

John Milton: Works

Molière: Comedies

Blaise Pascal: The Provincial Letters; Pensees; Scientific Treatises

Christiaan Huygens: Treatise on Light

Benedict de Spinoza: Ethics

John Locke: Letter Concerning Toleration; Of Civil Government; Essay Concerning Human Understanding; Thoughts Concerning Education

Jean Baptiste Racine: Tragedies

Isaac Newton: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy; Optics

Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz: Discourse on Metaphysics; New Essays Concerning Human Understanding; Monadology

Daniel Defoe: Robinson Crusoe

Jonathan Swift: A Tale of a Tub; Journal to Stella; Gulliver’s Travels; A Modest Proposal

William Congreve: The Way of the World

George Berkeley: Principles of Human Knowledge

Source: mortimer-adlers-reading-list

[385bookreviews]

1.36.3 Children of Dune by Frank Herbert

SPOILERS

Pages: 477

Time Read: 11 hours and 16 minutes

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ Storyline: ★★★★☆ Dialogue: ★★★★☆ Characters: ★★★★☆

Genre: Adult Science Fiction

TWs for the book: Violence, murder, death, addiction, incest, body horror, mental illness, war, su*c*de, drug use, possession, psychosis, colonization, self harm, sexism, drug abuse, torture, kidnapping, grief, religion/religious bigotry, adult/minor relationship

POV: Third person

Time Period/Location: Nine years after the events of Dune Messiah; On Arrakis and Salusa Secundus.

First Line: A spot of light appeared on the deep red rug which covered the raw rock of the cave floor.

Nine years after Paul Muad'Dib walked off into the desert, Stilgar guards Leto II and Ghanima, Paul's young twins. He contemplates how things in the Imperium got to this point, and if he should kill Leto and Ghanima to put an end to House Atreides and the pre-born. He ultimately decides against it.

Leto and Ghanima prepare to meet their grandmother, Lady Jessica for the first time. Alia, the current Regent of the Imperium, says she will meet her and Arrakeen and bring her back to Sietch Tabr to meet the twins. Leto and Ghanima discuss amongst themselves that Alia has become an Abomination, possessed by one of her past lives. Alia flies to Arrakeen and muses over why her mother has come to see her, suspecting ulterior motives. Jessica returns, and in a grand entrance to the people of the city, has her men, Gurney Halleck, and Stilgar capture people in the crowd to interrogate them. Alia is enraged she acted without her permission, but Jessica ignores her and talks to two of Alia's priests. One of them, a man named Javid, gives her pause. She notes that he hates the Atreides, and that Alia is involved with him, despite being married to Duncan Idaho. Jessica desires to go to Sietch Tabr immediately to meet her grandchildren, but is delayed by the pomp and ceremony of Alia's priests.

On Salusa Secundus, Irulan's sister, Wensicia of House Corrino, plots to have two Laza tigers kill the Atreides twins by gifting them specific robes the tigers will track. Her Bashar, Tyekanik, is opposed to the idea, but she commands him to obey, and to convert to the religion of Muad'Dib in order to persuade her son Farad'n to willingly become Emperor when her schemes fall into place.

Leto struggles with prescient dreams about an abandoned sietch called Jacurutu, and him and Ghanima both intensely fear becoming Abomination like Alia.

A mysterious blind figure known as the Preacher begins to appear in the city, preaching heresy against Alia and the Golden Elixir. Everyone begins to speculate that this man is actually Paul Muad'Dib, and that he didn't die when he wandered into the desert nine years before.

Alia recalls her possession. She cut off her ancestors' memories and pushed them down and away, not communicating with them or viewing them like the twins did. This left her susceptible to all of them overpowering her. To prevent this from happening, she allowed the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen to have partial possession of her. He commanded her to use the Bene Gesserit ways to stay eternally young, something highly forbidden, and he also commanded her to sleep with Javid.

Leto and Ghanima allow themselves temporary possession by the memories of Paul and Chani, and they seek advice from them. They conclude that they must follow Paul's Golden Path, the one he saw in his visions and ran off into the desert to escape.

The Preacher visits Farad'n on Arrakis to interpret his dreams. He refuses to tell Farad'n his interpretation, but reveals that Tyekanik bargained with the Preacher, who wanted to hear Farad'n's dreams in exchange for him commanding Duncan Idaho to come to their side.

Alia plots to abduct Lady Jessica and make it seem as though House Corrino was responsible, and Leto warns Jessica of this, and also tells her to cooperate with the abduction. Leto also warns Stilgar not to trust Alia, and that he sees three paths in his visions: that he will die outside of Sietch Tabr, that he will marry Ghanima, and that he will kill Jessica. Stilgar is highly disturbed by this conversation and tries to ignore it. Alia tells Duncan to kidnap Jessica, and he sees for the first time that she is possessed. He agrees anyways, and leaves.

Alia requests for Jessica to sit in the morning council to hear the supplicants. Alia says for Jessica to take the first petitioner, who is a musician who is in Arrakeen on a pilgrimage. He was jumped and had his money stolen and he appeals to be given money to return home. Jessica asks where he intends to go, and he says he intends to go to House Corrino. Jessica knows this is somehow a trap from Alia, and asks him to play music so she can decide what to do with him. He improvises a song and Alia becomes offended when he compares her to a death-spirit. Jessica allows him to go to House Corrino. Then a Fremen Naib, a former member of Paul's Fedaykin, appeals to them about how the terraforming of Dune is killing the sandworms and the spice trade. A priest runs forward insisting he be removed for wanting to appear under false pretenses. Alia silently commands the priest and he tries to shoot and kill Jessica under the guise of trying to kill the Fedaykin. Jessica and the man, Ghadhean, duck out of the way, and Ghadhean delivers a deadly blow to the priest. Jessica commands two servants to save the priests life so he can be questioned, but another member of Alia's court kills the priest before that can happen. Jessica accuses Alia of attempting to kill her, and calls her out for being possessed by the Baron. She then escapes with the help of Ghadhean and some other Fedaykin in the room. They hide her in an abandoned sietch, and Duncan Idaho comes to take her to safety, but actually abducts her and takes her to Salusa Secundus and House Corrino, defying both Alia and Lady Jessica in favor of the orders of the Preacher.

Leto and Ghanima know that House Corrino has sent animals to hunt and kill them. They sneak out into the desert at night and plot to make it seem as though Leto was killed so he might go find Jacurutu and lead humanity down the Golden Path. The Laza tigers find them, and they hide in a crevice in the rocks. They use the poisoned tips of their crysknives to kill the tigers by swiping their paws with them, but Ghanima is injured by their claws. Leto leaves on a sandworm and heads south, while Ghanima hypnotizes herself into believing that Leto is truly dead, and she won't believe anything else until he sees her again and says the words "Golden Path" in one of the ancient languages they both speak. She makes her way back to Sietch Tabr and sees a Fremen man and woman talking in the secret exit. The man has a control panel for the Laza tigers. Ghanima kills him with a poisoned needle, and takes the woman hostage.

Duncan and Jessica arrive on Salusa Secundus. Farad'n is displeased by the scheming of his mother, which Jessica and Duncan take advantage of. They make a deal that Jessica will teach Farad'n in the way of the Bene Gesserit, and she will also announce that she is there of her own free will so Alia cannot make it seem as though she were kidnapped. Farad'n banishes Wensicia, and then they begin to plot a marriage between Farad'n and Ghanima. Duncan tries to kill himself for some reason, and then disavows himself from the service of the Atreides.

Leto arrives at Jacurutu, but is caught by a Fremen named Namri, father of Javid, and Gurney Halleck. Gurney Halleck is under orders by Lady Jessica to make Leto undergo the spice trance, and to kill him if he shows signs of becoming Abomination.

Alia has Ghanima in her possession and tells her that she is going to marry Farad'n. Ghanima adamantly refuses, saying she will kill him for the death of Leto. Alia and Irulan try desperately to convince her, but she continues to refuse, until Alia agrees to let Ghanima kill Farad'n when they are betrothed. Irulan is appalled and tries to talk both of them out of it, but it is the only way in which Ghanima agrees.

Namri's niece Sabiha is assigned to guard Leto during his trances. Leto hypnotizes her and she falls asleep, allowing him to escape the sietch and hide out under the sand in the midst of a storm. Jacurutu was the old abandoned sietch of the Cast Out, a group of Fremen that stole others' water, but the Cast Out were still alive and weren't living there, so he travels further south.

Duncan returns to Alia, who is disappointed in him, but commands him to go back to Sietch Tabr to help guard Ghanima, who has returned there with Stilgar and Irulan. Duncan goes, but dodges the escort of one of Alia's guards, as he deduces that Alia was meaning for him to die on the trip there.

Leto encounters the Cast Out harvesting spice, and demands he be taken to their sietch, Shuloch, which is nothing more than a ramshackle village. There he discovers Sabiha, who was sent there as punishment by Namri for letting Leto escape. He goes out at night and covers his skin with sandtrouts, the first form of the sandworms. They engulf him and becoming a living stillsuit that make him much more powerful and more fast. He escapes Shuloch and makes a mission of destroying the qanats of the sietches to try and set back the terraforming by generations. Back in Jacurutu, Namri reveals to Gurney that him and his son Javid have been working for House Corrino. Gurney kills him and flees Jacurutu.

Months later, Leto, who has gained the power to control the sandworms and become nonhuman due to his bond with the sandtrouts, confronts the Preacher and his child guide. He kills the guide, and forces the Preacher to reveal his true identity as Paul Muad'Dib. Paul tries to talk Leto out of following the Golden Path, but Leto refuses.

Duncan tries to convince Stilgar to put Alia to a Trial of Possession. Stilgar insists upon him and his sietch remaining neutral. Javid walks in and Duncan kills him, forcing Stilgar to kill Duncan. He then remembers some of Leto's words to him about not trusting Alia and protecting Ghanima, and he takes his sietch and flees into the desert. Alia enlists one of Stilgar's former sietch members to hunt him down.

Leto and Paul find Gurney Halleck hiding out at a different sietch and bring him back to Shuloch with them. Gurney is stunned to see Leto's transformations and Paul alive. Stilgar tries to meet with the man assigned to hunt him down to work out a treaty between him and Alia, but Alia's other soldiers kidnap Ghanima and Stilgar kills the other Fremen.

Alia plans for Jessica and Farad'n's arrival for Ghanima's betrothal. She gazes out of her window, and sees the Preacher approaching. He gathers the crowd and she sends her priests down to grab him and bring him to her, and plans to have him enter at the same time as Ghanima, because she has figured out that he is Paul. Farad'n and Jessica arrive and come to watch the Preacher, but a mob breaks out in the street below. The priests try to grab Paul, but he is stabbed to death. Alia is enraged, and reveals to Jessica and Farad'n that that was Paul. The doors burst open and Leto comes in dragging Ghanima behind him. He says the words and Ghanima breaks from her hypnosis and asks him if their plan worked. Alia demands to know about the plan, and her and Leto fight, him throwing her around like a doll with his new super strength. He gives her two options: Trial of Possession, or she can throw herself out the window. She becomes fully possessed by all of the lives within her, mainly by the Baron, but she is able to fight them off long enough to throw herself out of the window.

Leto is crowned Emperor, and he makes Farad'n his Scribe. The Naibs swear fealty to him and worship him as the embodiment of Shai-Hulud. He speaks with Farad'n privately with Ghanima, asking him for his Sardaukar forces. Farad'n doesn't want to give them up, but Leto says that he will. He also says Farad'n will not be marrying Ghanima, but that he will marry her, and that Farad'n will secretly father the Atreides line going forward as Leto is no longer able to reproduce. Farad'n tries to argue, but Leto insists this will happen, and that he will rule for 4000 years and create a Golden Age, but all of his subjects will be weak and subservient. He renames Farad'n as Harq al-Ada, the historian that has been writing most of the passages throughout the book.

Leto II Atreides (Desert Demon/Ari/Batigh): Leto was definitely an unsettling part of the book. He says a lot of odd things before he starts taking spice, but afterwards, his chapters kind of drag on and on with a lot of his musings and movements through the world. Like with Paul, you think that he is trying to do the good and right thing, but after he takes the spice, he is sucked onto this Golden Path, and, because he is young and pre-born, he doesn't have the power to resist like Paul did.

Ghanima Atreides: She is my favorite character in the book and I really enjoyed all of her scenes.

Duncan Idaho (Hayt): Once again I am confused about a lot of Duncan's motive and actions in the ending of the book, if anyone has any clarification about this feel free to message me!

Stilgar: I really like how we got more of Stilgar's perspective in this book, seeing him question his loyalty and make certain connections. The twins, particularly Leto, really manipulated him, and it was interesting to see how in the first chapter he questioned killing the twins and in the last chapter he questioned if he should have done it when he had the chance.

Alia Atreides (St. Alia of the Knife/Coan-Teen/Abomination/Womb of Heaven): Alia's descent into madness was really interesting to watch. I feel like we never got to see Alia's true personality, which makes sense because she never had one. She tried to create her own sense of self to the point of her own detriment.

Storyline: I really enjoyed this book the most out of the first three. The second half of the book was quite a bit slower because a lot of it was Leto high on spice in the desert, but I liked the short chapters and the switching of the perspectives. It does get a little confusing with the weeks and months that pass with only vague mention, but it wasn't too much of an issue.

Quotes: -"Government and religion united, and breaking a law became sin. A smell of blasphemy arose like smoke around any questioning of governmental edicts. The guilt of rebellion invoked hellfire and self-righteous judgements. Yet it was men who created these governmental edicts."-Stilgar (p.6)

-"The joy of living, its beauty is all bound up in the fact that life can surprise you."-Leto II (p.83)

-"Atrocity is recognized as such by victim and perpetrator alike, by all who learn about it at whatever remove. Atrocity has no excuses, no mitigating argument. Atrocity never balances or rectifies the past. Atrocity merely arms the future for more atrocity. It is self-perpetuating upon itself--a barbarous form of incest. Whoever commits atrocity also commits those future atrocities thus bred."-The Apocrypha of Muad'Dib (p.117)

-"The past may show the right way to behave if you live in the past, Stil, but circumstances change."-Leto II (p.133)

-"What other function did the priesthood serve than to deny individual will?"-Stilgar (p.139)

-"It's beautiful, but it's not art. Humans create art by their own violence, by their own volition."-Duncan (p.143)

-"To suspect your own mortality is to know the beginning of terror; to learn irrefutably that you are mortal is to know the end of terror."-Jessica (p.154)

-"Good government never depends upon laws, but upon the personal qualities of those who govern. The machinery of government is always subordinate to the will of those who administer that machinery. The most important element of government, therefore, is the method of choosing leaders."-The Spacing Guild Manual (p.171)

-"Our civilization could well die of indifference within it before succumbing to external attack."-Jessica (p.172)

-"If you put away those who report accurately, you'll keep only those who know what you want to hear... I can think of nothing more poisonous than to rot in the stink of your own reflections."-Jessica (p.181)

-"Governments, if they endure, always tend increasingly toward aristocratic forms. No government in history has been known to evade this pattern. And as the aristocracy develops, government tends more and more to act exclusively in the interest of the ruling class--whether that class be hereditary royalty, oligarchs of financial empires, or entrenched bureaucracy."-Bene Gesserit Training Manual (p.221)

-"But one learns from books and reels only certain things can be done. Actual learning requires that you do those things."-Farad'n/Harq al-Ada (p.245)

-"Is your religion real when it costs you nothing and carries no risk? Is your religion real when you commit atrocities in its name? Whence comes your downward degeneration from the original revelation?"-The Preacher/Paul Muad'Dib (p.262)

-"To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty."-Leto II (p.314)

-"But the evil was known after the event!"-The Preacher/Paul Muad'Dib "Which is the way of many great evils."-Leto II (p.406)

-"The child who refuses to travel in the father's harness, this is the symbol of man's most unique capability. 'I do not have to be what my father was. I do not have to obey my father's rules or even believe everything he believed. It is my strength as a human that I can make my own choices of what to believe and what not to believe, of what to be and what not to be."-Leto II (p.449)

[pandoramsbox]

Sci-Fi Saturday: Island of Lost Souls

Week 9:

Film(s): Island of Lost Souls (Dir. Erle C. Kenton, 1932, USA)

Viewing Format: Blu-Ray: Criterion Edition

Date Watched: July 9, 2021

Rationale for Inclusion:

Since antiquity humans have been telling stories about humans becoming animals, animals becoming humans, and human-animal hybrids. As humans moved from superstition and religion into scientific methodology for understanding the world around them, it follows that this obsession would inspire science fiction narratives.

In 1896, author H.G. Wells combined contemporary discourses around Darwinian evolution, Galtonian eugenics, and the anti-vivisection movement with a shipwreck narrative and published The Island of Dr. Moreau. All subsequent science fiction narratives that have involved the creation of animal-human hybrids through surgery or other technological means derive at least some of their inspiration from this book.

The novel was adapted into a silent film twice (once in France, once in Germany) before a sound adaptation was produced in Hollywood by Paramount Studios, Island of Lost Souls (Dir. Erle C. Kenton, 1932, USA). As with Frankenstein (Dir. James Whale, 1931, USA) and Doctor X (Dir. Michael Curtiz, 1932, USA), this film is part of the cycle of Pre-Code horror films produced in the wake of the popularity of Dracula (Dir. Todd Browning, 1931, USA). It also marks the first time a work of H.G. Wells is featured on the survey, which at 9 weeks into this series seems late given that he's one of the authors competing for the title of "Father of Science Fiction."

Aside from its place in the overall scientific genre, Island of Lost Souls would have been worth including for no other reason than its dialogue inspiring Devo's 1978 album Q: Are We Not Men? We are Devo!. The Criterion collection disc release even includes an interview with band members Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh talking about how the film inspired them.

Reactions:

Whilst Doctor X was a horror film with science fiction aesthetics, Island of Lost Souls is more science fiction film with horror aesthetics. The beast-men makeup makes Moreau's creations indeed disquieting and monstrous. The uncredited work of Charles Gemora and Wally Westmore lacks the artistry of Jack Pierce, but is nevertheless quality for the era. Dr. Moreau's laboratory in the House of Pain is minimalist compared to the apparatuses seen in the laboratories of Doctors Xavier and Frankenstein, but he is operating further from concentrated civilizations on a South Seas island, and apparently doesn't require as showy equipment.

As an adaptation of The Island of Dr. Moreau it's fairly accurate in terms of core plot and themes. The accuracy diverges due to including a love interest for the protagonist, Edward Parker (Richard Arlen), in his worried, yet resilient fiancee Ruth Thomas (Leila Hyams) and the retooling of the novel's Half-Finished Puma-Woman into Lota, The Panther Woman (Kathleen Burke). As with adaptations of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Hollywood filmmakers felt compelled to include a sexy, dark woman and a pure, wholesome fiancee counterpoint in what had previously been a homosocial narrative of male psychology and interpersonal dynamics. Apparently, the male filmmakers found it necessary to insert a Madonna-whore complex where there was none, or more likely wanted a "whore" and felt obligated to include a "Madonna" for the sake of propriety, and/or to not alienate the female audience as they perceived it and the censors.

However, the male filmmakers were not just interested in adding sex in Island of Lost Souls, but amping up the original novel's violence. Scenes of abuse, torture and surgery without anesthesia directed at the beast-men were all carryovers from the source material, but the grisly fate of Dr. Moreau (Charles Laughton) was unique to this adaptation. In The Island of Dr. Moreau the Half-Finished Puma-Woman and Moreau battle to the death. In Island of Lost Souls the beast-men rebel and get revenge on Moreau, dissecting him with his own surgical tools in the House of Pain.

To my partner and my 2020s eyes the dispatch of Moreau by his creations was shocking and horrific. We noted it was gruesome even by Pre-Code standards. Apparently to its contemporary audiences it went too far, and this scene, as well as others seen as too explicit, resulted in censored versions circulating or the film being outright banned in various countries. Other Pre-Code films, such as Frankenstein and King Kong (Dir. Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933, USA), suffered similar fates, and like them Island of Lost Souls would not be in circulation in their original theatrical cuts until restorations were performed decades later.

Island of Lost Souls offers more than shock value and a Pre-Code case study, however. Karl Struss' moody cinematography and the emphasis on the characters as much as the narrative situation makes for an engaging film. Bela Lugosi's Sayer of the Law, with make-up like a budget Wolfman, may play more as camp these days, but he is absolutely committed to his character. Similarly, Laughton's impish Moreau steals every scene that he is in. For fans of monster or mad scientist movies it's a necessary watch.

[shirks-all-responsibilities]

Thanks @iamskyereads fer the tag!

🎵 Last Song: "Cross My Mind" by Jill Scott and all my other faves from her CLASSIC first three albums. Neosoul was my early-mid-aughts JAAAM in college, memorieeeees!

📺 Last Movie: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, while I try to justify continuing my Max subscription. (Fun fact: Thorin Oakenshield was my first fanfic love, and pretty recently 🙈😊).

🎞🎬 Currently Watching: Gaming captures all my attention these days, but I watched Chernobyl soon after TLOU ended (apparently I wanted EVEN MORE pain 😆) and ever since, on my commute to and from work, I've listened to the official podcasts with Craig Mazin, over and over and over, the reality of what happened is so FASCINATING, I can't stop listening...

💻 📖📱Currently Reading: Scholarship on cognitive science, imagination, and literature/fiction, like the chapters "On Truth and Fiction" and "Patterns of Thought: Narrative and Verse" from the book Cognitive Literary Science: Dialogues between Literature and Cognition. The insights offered by the cognitive and biocultural sciences of religion in recent decades changed my life, and I'm gobbling up everything they have to say about why fic is so valuable, meaningful, and an incredibly human product of our complex brains. Fic is not just silly little fake stories about imaginary people, it's much, much more than that, and it warms my heart to find scholarship that is giving voice to that deep down feeling many of us have about its worth and how deeply satisfying it can be, in a way that totally shifts your paradigm and blows your mind, ya know?

🍽 Currently Craving: Indian/South Asian takeout, which I just finished consuming as I type this. 😎

No pressure tags/just saying hello/covertly spreading my fiction research nerdery: @davnittbraes, @imtryingmybeskar, @julesonrecord, @galactic-basic, @skyshipper

[in-flvx]

11, 24, and 26!

11 - if you could live in any other decade, when & where would you choose?

oh damn, that's a hard one. I am quite happy with existing as a queer person right here right now (not that anything is anywhere is close to perfect, but I am able to witness my trans friends thriving, and I wouldn't change that for the world)

But just going from a researching perspective, I'd love to exist in the 70s and 80s in the UK. Just to be able to write from experience rather than guesstimation.

24 - are you reading a book at the moment? What do you like about it?

I have several open tbr's, many of which I have stopped in the middle of at random points. One of which is "Axioms end" by Lindsay Ellis. I like the science fiction, and the fact that it takes place in the early oughts, and that it's fast paced. It's a fun read, I just suck at getting to the end of things I enjoy

Another is "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman. I like the dialogue between old traditions and more current societies, and the merger of them, and how capitalism breeds its own new gods, who do their utmost to take over those old traditions. I am only like a third of the way in, but I really like the way it is written, and how the seperate religions are introduced to the reader, and how they find their way to america. Also, all the characters are highly engaging.

26 - what's your favourite season, and why?

I mean, i love the fall. Big fan of the colours, and the general vibe of decay. Love it when the weather allows me to just exist, too, instead of having to fight for my life against allergies and heat. I am also partial to winter, for many of the same reasons, even though the colours aren't as vibrant.

[hobbitbelliqueux]

My thoughts on : Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun ☀️

I finished the book two days ago, and I gave myself a little more time to think about what happened there. I was absolutely stunned by the story, and the last three parts were particularly emotional - the final chapter giving the bittersweet atmosphere I love so much in Ishiguro’s writing style.

Now I have the whole story in mind, I can be more precise on what makes that book so good (to me of course, and I would gladly discuss the points I will underline here). No worry, this post won’t contain any spoil, unless properly mentioned.

1. The narration

The story is told through Klara’s words and memories, giving the book his special tone : everything is depicted by an android, and though she feels a lot of emotions (we’ll be back on this point), she also have a pragmatic analysis of what is happening, as if she were looking the scene at a distance. Thus, the approach of human feelings and emotion appears different, as Klara makes new comparisons and depictions of each. Moreover, on a theoretical approach, that choice of narration supposedly gives the reader a reliable narrator : Klara saved the memories in her mind and share them with us. As she basically is an AI, we trust her because her memories can’t be altered by time (can them though ? on this, see spoilers part). And because she is reliable, the other central point of the book becomes even more interesting.

2. Mysticism and faith

Yes. This is (to me) the whole point of the story : even though she is an android, Klara needs to believe. She is totally dedicated to Josie and her family and friends, of course - she was made for that purpose after all - but there is a most important being for her : the Sun. Its presence in the very title is of course the first evidence of the strength of her faith - but as the story goes, the Sun takes more and more importance in Klara’s life and mind. And that faith permits the reader to think about Klara’s place in the family and in the society. Indeed, faith and computers can seem very antithetical : according to some philosophers, science tend to wipe out fantasy from our world; but here we have a believing android. Thus, is Klara “human”, after all ? Does she deserve her fate ? Is she considered as she should be ? Those questions are often asked in sci-fi when it comes to androids, but in this book, the way the author pushes the reader to consider himself (or herself) the idea through religion appears brilliant to me. We’re facing an android who can do, feel, think and imagine what every human do, feel, think and imagine. And that’s why fourth part was so shocking - but I won’t go further on this theme, as there is a high risk of spoil.

3. Humans surrounding Klara

I could make a part for each character - but the idea is to be brief here (lol), so I’ll go with this. What I loved was the variety of characters and situations depicted through Klara’s eyes. Some were only quickly seen - as the Cup-of-Tea Woman or the Burglar Man with his dog (sorry I translated their names as I could 😭) - others are more developed - Ricky, Josie etc. But what I love is that we got to know them through Klara, and thus she emphasizes on peculiar traits for each, depending on what she feels important for them. But the truth is we will never know how they feel or what they think. Just Klara’s hypotheses - or direct testimonies, through dialogues for example. Thus, every emotion they express directly is as pure and brutal as it should be, creating intensity in such scenes (thinking of the end of part three…). Finally, each character has its own flaws, and I feel they also serve as mesure tools for Klara’s humanity : sometimes, she indeed is more human than the “real” ones. But, as Klara is devoted to her family, and as we see them through her loving eyes, I found it very hard to despise them for their bad behaviors towards their peers or towards Klara. Everyone is understandable, and this is brilliant.

To make a (very) long story short, I loved this book and how well it was thought. What a brilliant piece of literature - I can’t wait to discover Kazuo Ishiguro’s other works ! And I’m sorry, this is probably a little bit confused and way too long. But I feel this book will stay with me for a long time, and I needed to post what was turning in my head.

Also, I’d love to know what y’all thought of this story, or if you’re curious to discover it !!

Now, I’ll just add a really small spoiler part, under the picture. Don’t go there if you didn’t read it !! It’ll be a shame, trust me !!

So, you might have understood it, but the point of my analysis was to underline how human Klara was, and how her final situation (and the plan the mother had for her) seemed unfair (even though she seems to completely accept it). But what missed for me was the reliability : she has emotions, feelings, and she’s able to express them ; she has faith and she even has rituals (at Mc Bain’s and her sacrifice scene with the father) ; she understands humans, and she can act like them, much more than any android like her (to the point she could have been a perfect imitation of Josie). However, what makes us human (to me) is the fact that we’re inconstant and always changing, forgetting, distorting reality to fit our narratives, etc. And, until last part, Klara seems to lack this. But, in the end, we learn that the liquid she sacrificed to destroy the Cootings Machine altered her memories and perception of things, to the point everything melts in her mind. We also know she’s telling us the story while she already is in this state… so was she really the reliable narrator I talked of ? Did the Sun saved Josie, or did Klara saw and remembered what she wanted to ? And finally, who was the woman who came to see her in the end ? Was it really the woman from the shop or did Klara forgot how Josie looked like ? We can’t know that. Because Klara’s mind is full of holes and is inconsistant. Indeed, Klara is like an aging woman, confused. Thus, to me, she didn’t deserved her fate, nor she deserved how she was treated by the mother, Rick’s mother, Mr. Capaldi, the Governess and the father. Only Josie saw, at first, what made Klara special - as the girl with spike hairs : she had a human mind trapped in an android body. This absolutely broke my heart.

[rockislandadultreads]

Black History Month: Nonfiction Recommendations

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Ibram X. Kendi's concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America - but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. In How to be an Antiracist, Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it.

In this book, Kendi weaves together an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science, bringing it all together with an engaging personal narrative of his own awakening to antiracism. How to Be an Antiracist is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond an awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a truly just and equitable society.

Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people’s lives and behavior and the nation’s fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma, and more. Using riveting stories about people - including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball’s Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others - she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day.

The Black Church by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

For the young Henry Louis Gates, Jr., growing up in a small, residentially segregated West Virginia town, the church was a center of gravity - an intimate place where voices rose up in song and neighbors gathered to celebrate life's blessings and offer comfort amid its trials and tribulations. In this tender and expansive reckoning with the meaning of the Black Church in America, Gates takes us on a journey spanning more than five centuries, from the intersection of Christianity and the transatlantic slave trade to today’s political landscape. At road’s end, and after Gates’s distinctive meditation on the churches of his childhood, we emerge with a new understanding of the importance of African American religion to the larger national narrative - as a center of resistance to slavery and white supremacy, as a magnet for political mobilization, as an incubator of musical and oratorical talent that would transform the culture, and as a crucible for working through the Black community’s most critical personal and social issues.

Black Futures edited by Kimberly Drew & Jenna Wortham

Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham have brought together this collection of work - images, photos, essays, memes, dialogues, recipes, tweets, poetry, and more - to tell the story of the radical, imaginative, provocative, and gorgeous world that Black creators are bringing forth today. The book presents a succession of startling and beautiful pieces that generate an entrancing rhythm: Readers will go from conversations with activists and academics to memes and Instagram posts, from powerful essays to dazzling paintings and insightful infographics.

[maigamal]

Exploring the World of Islamic Studies

Islamic Studies is a broad and enriching field that delves into the diverse aspects of Islam, including its beliefs, practices, history, and culture. This area of study offers valuable insights not just for Muslims but for anyone interested in understanding one of the world's major religions.

At the heart of Islamic Studies lies the Quran, which is considered the holy book of Islam. The Quran serves as a foundational text that guides the beliefs and practices of Muslims around the globe. Understanding its teachings can provide a deeper appreciation for the faith and its followers. Engaging with the Quran is not just about reading the text; it's also about interpreting its meanings and applying its lessons to everyday life.

Another important component of Islamic Studies is the Arabic language. Since the Quran is written in Arabic, learning the language is essential for those who want to study Islamic texts in their original form. Mastering Arabic opens up a new world of literature, history, and religious understanding. This is where resources like Shaykhi come into play. The website offers comprehensive tools for learning Arabic and understanding the Quran, making it a valuable resource for students of Islamic Studies.

Islamic Studies encompasses various disciplines, such as theology, law, philosophy, and history. Scholars in this field analyze Islamic texts, historical events, and cultural practices to gain a holistic understanding of the religion. For instance, studying Islamic law, or Sharia, involves exploring its sources, such as the Quran and the Hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad), and understanding its application in different contexts.

The historical aspect of Islamic Studies is equally fascinating. It covers the development of Islamic civilizations, their contributions to science, philosophy, and art, and their interactions with other cultures. This historical lens helps students appreciate the rich tapestry of Islamic heritage and its influence on the modern world.

In addition to academic pursuits, Islamic Studies can also foster interfaith dialogue and mutual respect among diverse communities. Understanding the beliefs and practices of Islam can help dispel misconceptions and promote peaceful coexistence.

In summary, Islamic Studies is a dynamic field that invites exploration and understanding. Whether you're drawn to the spiritual dimensions of the Quran, the intricacies of Arabic, or the historical journey of Islamic civilizations, there’s so much to discover. Resources like Shaykhi can greatly assist in your learning journey, making it easier to dive into the rich world of Islamic knowledge.

[lotmg815]

Week 3: I Am Malala

Part 2: End of a Sentence

The "period, end of a sentence" exemplifies the beginning of fresh dialogues on equality, health, and empowerment rather than a conclusion. Women and girls who are allowed to candidly discuss their bodies without shame have greater access to education, healthcare, and opportunity. It's about laying fresh bases of knowledge and support, not only about shattering barriers of silence. Part 2: Book Report One word would be "empowering" if I sum up I Am Malala. Malala Yousafzai's excellent autobiography is a manifesto for equality, fairness, and human rights rather than only the account of one girl's brave struggle for education. Mainly about how we see the rights of women and girls to education worldwide, Malala's life, bravery, and advocacy have altered the globe. Her narrative provides an understanding of a conflict-torn area as well as the mental state of people trying to stifle advancement using violence. More significantly, it allows millions of females worldwide to learn, develop, and realize their potential and voice.

Malala's book clarifies the complexity of Islam, especially about women, girls, and education. It provides a more complex perspective on the religion and its cultural customs, therefore dispelling many Western misunderstandings. Malala's story shows the apparent discrepancy between the actual, peaceful teachings of Islam that favor education and gender equality and the extreme interpretation of Islam the Taliban employs to excuse the mistreatment of women. A significant player in the story, Malala's father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, supports these ideals, and his conviction about the need for education for girls lays the groundwork for Malala's campaigning. In the end, the book shows Islam promotes learning and personal development for all, regardless of gender, when followed naturally.

With Malala's birth into a family that valued education for all children, especially girls, chance plays a part in her life. This was unusual in Pakistan's Swat Valley, particularly at the Taliban's ascent. Ziauddin, Malala's father, was an outspoken teacher who taught her that, regardless of gender, education was a fundamental right for every child. But the most critical chance event occurred on October 9, 2012, when a Taliban gunman entered Malala's school bus and shot her in the head for her advocacy. She miraculously lived, and this moment of survival became a worldwide rallying cry for the right to education. Had Malala not survived, her narrative would not have spurred an international movement. Her actions are evidence of her resiliency and the opportunity element influencing her fate.

Based on estimates from UNESCO, circumstances including refugee status, war, poverty, and gender preference deny nearly 160 million girls globally access to school. The scope of this issue is astounding, and one can only imagine the world if all girls received education. Teaching girls would result in better families, more environmentally friendly businesses, and more fair communities. Studies have revealed that educated women are more likely to marry later, have fewer children, and invest in their children's health and education, therefore generating a virtuous cycle of development. Education also enables women to fully engage in political and financial life, therefore fostering worldwide stability and creativity. I think an educated society would also introduce other points of view to usually male-dominated domains such as science, technology, and leadership. Educating girls would set off long-term wealth, peace, and creativity.

"One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world." is among my favorite passages from the book. This comment connects since it captures education's simplicity and significant influence. Malala's comments here capture her unwavering conviction that education can change communities, individuals, and even the planet. This quotation reminds us that considerable change usually starts with tiny, personal actions—teaching one child or offering one opportunity—acting as a call to action for leaders, teachers, and people. It emphasizes that, given our will to use them, we already possess the means for change.

The positive worldwide message of I Am Malala is that education, nonviolence, and endurance may all help bring about change. Particularly in front of recent events in Iran, Afghanistan, and even the United States, Malala's support of peace, education, and gender equality still speaks to me. The comeback of the Taliban in Afghanistan has once more caused concerns regarding the direction of women's rights, especially the right to education. Women's rights movements have gathered steam in Iran as girls and women courageously question repressive standards. In the United States, too, in the political environment of today, debates on gender equality, access to education, and the defense of individual rights continue to be absolutely vital. The narrative of Malala reminds us of the stakes involved in refusing education and the reasons behind the worldwide fight for these rights. Her message is unmistakable: everyone has a fundamental right to education; it is not a privilege.

Malala's path inspires young people all around since it demonstrates how they can be effective change agents. From the refugee crisis to climate change, she has utilized her position to advocate for girls' education and speak out on more general global justice concerns. Her narrative stresses the need to speak up even if it seems as though nobody else is listening. Her book's message of hope, resiliency, and the conviction that regular people can do amazing things when they stand up for what is right makes it always relevant.

Finally, I Am Malala is a call to action for the whole community to acknowledge and defend the rights of all people to education, not only a memoir. Malala's narrative emphasizes the importance of education in allowing people to control their own destinies and the destiny of their communities rather than only learning to read and write. This book's strong messages of bravery, equality, and the transforming power of education still inspire readers today. It constantly reminds us that one voice—no matter how young—can transform the planet.