#helen larsson

[vegalores]

i'll be your baby tonight

Helene had watched them perform no more than two hours ago at one of the local London venues not too far from the hotel they’d chosen for their stay. Usually, they would be on a bus immediately after the show, heading to the next location for another performance in another city, but London was their last stop on this mini tour. They had done so well that Helene stopped by a little grocery store on the way, picked up a bottle of wine to congratulate them and some grub.

Joey had actually met the brunette a few weeks ago when he and the boys had arranged a meet and greet before the week of shows began in the area. The pretty brown eyed girl wasn’t a surprise they expected when she delivered flowers from the endless number of fans who had called in a favour just in time for their arrival.

The meeting had left a lasting impression on him specifically, while the other lads went about their business as though they hadn’t just met the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth—though they got to hear about it for days.

“ Hi.. “ she says, barely above a whisper, as Norum answers the door expecting it to be room service, but recognising her, he steps aside to let her in because he knows that Joey would do damage if he didn’t. She was all he had been talking about since they got to London, besides the response from the fans after each show every night.

“ Helene! come in.. I’ve been.. we’ve been waiting for you, “ he corrects himself pretty quickly, noticing the chuckle from his bandmate right away after the little slip up there. While they’d all been waiting for her arrival, that was true, the one who had arranged to have her drop by in the first place was Joey and it didn’t take much for everyone to see he was fully smitten.

“ I brought some things, I hope you don’t mind, just as a well done for the last weeks performances. You guys were so good, “ she beams, handing the bag over to Joey after lifting out the wine bottle in case it breaks.

“ Food! “ a voice shouts, as footsteps bound into the room to quickly retrieve the bag of food from Joey’s hands and racing off to the kitchen area to start prepping some. Helene looked up at the sudden loud sound, seeing Ian flying through at the mere sight of a full grocery store bag. It left her giggling while Joey apologised for the behaviour of some of his friends, even though she wasn’t at all offended or shocked, as they needed to eat after such a long day.

“ Don’t worry about it, Joakim. I’m just happy to help.. I know you didn’t ask, but I figured that bag of food is better than the cheap and awful stuff you’d get here in the hotel store, “ she’s smiling warmly with her hands clasped in front of her, rocking a little on her heels because she doesn’t know if she’s allowed to take a seat at all, not wanting to be rude.

Joey’s head tilted and even John and Ian paused to look at the sound of their frontmans given name, marvelling at the way in which she had been able to pronounce it correctly, as well as the fact that most people just used his alias. A pang hit him in the chest and he felt the warmth and comfort fill him by her use of the name his Mother had gifted him at birth. Her eyes danced between the three of them at different areas of the room then, uncertain if she had done something wrong.

“ Come sit, Helene, the food should be ready in no time seeing as Ian is already cooking half of it, “ he chuckles, taking a seat himself on the sofa near the full length windows overlooking the city and finding a blush creeping onto his cheeks.

“ I’m so sorry. I didn’t even consider you may not like the name but I wanted to be as polite as possible show a little initiative, “ she finds a spot on the sofa cushion he pats beside him and glances down, fiddling with her nails now and feeling a bit out of place for having possibly offended him somehow.

“ You didn’t do anything wrong, Helene, trust me, “ he tells her as he lifts her face by the chin, a thumb and finger delicately resting under it to achieve that goal, while searching her eyes and waiting for them to land on him again so she understands she is not at fault even in the slightest. “ I’ve just never met a single person over the last six years who even wanted to learn my name or ever use it.. and you said it perfectly, “ he smiles.

UB40’s cover of Cherry Oh Baby stilled her for a moment as she processed Joey’s words and then smiled herself, a blush of her own creeping onto her cheeks, deepening the second she realised he was still holding her chin up to get a look at her more closely in the dimly lit room.

Clearing her throat was not an option because she was now almost certain her voice had run away with the kindness he possessed and the gentleness in which he was touching her and making her feel at ease.

“ Um.. “ she utters, but it is Norums remark of letting the poor girl go that startles Joey into retreating his hand away from her face. Snapping out of it, the long haired male looks down apologetically for a few brief moments and then starts to ask her questions to remove them both from the tension.

“ Do you live far from this hotel, Helene? “ he asks, pulling her free from her timidness almost right away as she goes about getting a little more comfortable on the sofa, leaning an elbow on the back of it so she can see both outside and Joey at the same time, the lights of the city adding atmosphere to what she considers a beautiful night for her.

“ About 20 minutes from here.. a tiny one bed apartment but it keeps a roof over my head and I can’t complain. It’s close to work for me, too, “ she answers, not minding at all that he has taken to asking questions and getting to know her better. Any and all possible routes the night could take were welcome as far as she was concerned, more so if they took the heat off her and put a stop to her blushing and shyness.

“ Would you like me to walk you home when you’re ready? “ it was a question he found himself asking very suddenly, even though he realises that might not be appropriate because in all actuality, this was only their second official meeting. But it was when another smile slowly formed on her features that he knew he was in the clear for being so bold as to ask.

“ That would be very kind of you, Joakim, thank you, “ brown eyes dance with happiness and something that could mirror the likes of deep longing, which he picked up on swiftly and called to Ian, who was still in the kitchen area across the room, to bring two wine glasses over to the table so he could pour Helene and himself a drink or two as they conversed.

“ I love hearing my name from your lips, “ he says, not really acknowledging the words that left his mouth until the shock on her face, accompanied by the deep red blush and a holler from John who had just walked back in to grab himself a wine after Joey set it back down and shakily handed Helene hers, hoping the ground would swallow him up.

I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight is playing through the hotel radio now and both herself and Joey turn red in unison, which ignites the other two males in the room into fits of laughter, before dings from the oven and microwave go off and the room is back to some form of normality again as everyone filters back into the lounge area. All of them acknowledge Helene as they enter in a way that makes her feel completely welcome.

“ That was a lovely compliment, by the way, “ she tells him, of his remark about his name leaving her lips, while she takes a much needed long sip of the bubbly liquid in her own glass. “ I love the way you say mine, too, “ she adds, though this time in a hushed tone, so as not to alert the boys to their flirting, and he is enormously thankful for her doing so.

[musicals-in-sweden]

Promotion picture for Änglagård - Oscarsteatern, 2023.

Photography by Mats Bäcker

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

♾️ Books for World Autism Month + Neurodiversity Celebration Week

♾️ The last week of March was Neurodiversity Celebration Week. My post is (obviously) late, but April is also World Autism Month (beginning with World Autism Awareness Day on April 2). To generate additional awareness, here are a few books by autistic authors and/or about autistic characters. On the last slide, you'll also find books with additional neurodiversity rep (including characters with ADHD, dyslexia, and OCD).

✨ The Bride Test - Helen Hoang ✨ Daniel, Deconstructed - James Ramos ✨ Tonight We Rule the World - Zack Smedley ✨ Paige Not Found - Jen Wilde ✨ Something More - Jackie Khalilieh ✨ Uncomfortable Labels - Laura Kate Dale ✨ The Luis Ortega Survival Club - Sonora Reyes ✨ Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl - Brianna R. Shrum and Sara Waxelbaum ✨ The Spirit Bares Its Teeth - Andrew Joseph White ✨ The Brightsiders - Jen Wilde ✨ The Boys in the Back Row - Mike Jung ✨ Hating Jesse Harmon - Robin Mimna

✨ Queens of Geek - Jen Wilde ✨ The Maid - Nita Prose ✨ The Heart Principle - Helen Hoang ✨ The Girl Who Played with Fire - Stieg Larsson ✨ Even If We Break - Marieke Nijkamp ✨ The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon ✨ Unseelie - Ivelisse Housman ✨ This Could Be Us - Kennedy Ryan ✨ Act Your Age, Eve Brown - Talia Hibbert ✨ The Kiss Quotient - Helen Hoang ✨ On the Edge of Gone - Corinne Duyvis ✨ Against the Stars - Christopher Hartland

✨ Tell Me How It Ends - Quinton Li ✨ Izzy at the End of the World - K.A. Reynolds ✨ Late Bloomer - Mazey Eddings ✨ Fake It Till You Bake It - Jamie Wesley ✨ Whatever Happens - Micalea Smeltzer ✨ Gimmicks and Glamour - Lauren Melissa Ellzey ✨ Last Call at the Local - Sarah Grunder Ruiz ✨ Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling - Elise Bryant ✨ The Charm Offensive - Alison Cochrun ✨ A Prayer for Vengeance - Leanne Schwartz ✨ Tilly in Technicolor - Mazey Eddings ✨ If Only You - Chloe Liese

[you-have-made-a-fatal-error]

Stay Tuned for Danger Art - Part II (Part I here)

1- February in the Isle of Wight by John Brett, 1866

2- Still life (primroses, pears and pomegranates) by Henri Fantin-Latour, 1866

3- Young Girl Reading by Jean Honoré Fragonard, 1769

4- Fringed Gentians by John Henry Hill, 1867

5- Irises by Vincent van Gogh, 1890

6- The Road to Castel Gandolfo by Andre Derain, 1921

7- Fruit and Flowers by Paulus Theodorus van Brussel, 1789

8- A Lady Reading a Newspaper by Carl Larsson, 1886

9- By the Cottage Door, Redlynch, Wilts by Helen Allingham, probably late 19th c.

10- Vase with flowers on a marble table, a Chaffinch and grapes near a bird's nest by Cornelis van Spaendonck, 1824

[starlene]

Okay so. Unless something unexpected happens at the last minute, I'm going to see Änglagård the musical in Stockholm next week, and here's the thing: I have literally no idea what it's about.

I haven't watched the movie or even read the synopsis on purpose, because I also didn't do that for Så som i himmelen, and getting to experience that story for the first time via Fredrik Kempe's music touched me to my core. Back then, though, I had some knowledge of Så som i himmelen as a concept and had listened to the Den tid jag har demo religiously (though I had no idea where it fit within the story, I guessed it was near the end of the first act where the main character starts to figure his life out, and then it turned out to be the opening song) – whereas here, I've somehow managed to miss nearly all of the songs, interviews and other stuff they've released.

I wonder if I should do some catch-up with the promotional material before leaving or if I should go in totally blind... but anyways, as a treat to future me and all of you Swedish movie/musical fans out there, here's what I think Änglagård the musical is about, based on the random assortment of Instagram promos I've seen (most watched without audio on):

Fredrik Lycke lives in an old farmhouse called Änglagård that his grandpa built with his very own hands. He feels extremely passionate about the farm and its legacy. Helen Sjöholm is married to Fredrik Lycke and she is also very fond of their home.

But then they either lose all their money and need to sell the farm, or maybe there's some Bennets vs. Mr. Collins kinda situation going on where grandpa willed that the house must be inherited by your idiot nephew in case you don't have any sons – and the buyers/inheritors are rebellious motorcycle rock'n'roll dude Lindy Larsson and his equally rebellious motorcycle striptease chick girlfriend Tuva B. Larsen. Or maybe one of them is Helen Sjöholm and/or Fredrik Lycke's estranged child who hasn't been in contact with them for years but suddenly wants to move back home?

Whatever the case, the young couple, who live in all manner of sin and probably have criminal records, upset the conservative sensibilities of the older couple... and they also remind them of being young and passionately in love, which they aren't anymore, and realising that causes a rift in their relationship. (Sidenote: I know Helen Sjöholm, Fredrik Lycke and Lindy Larsson are all about the same age irl, but onstage, the Larsson/Larsen couple is styled to look younger than the Sjöholm/Lycke couple. So I'm just making assumptions about the characters' ages here!) Furthermore, the older couple is afraid that the young couple won't honor the work and legacy of the people who lived in Änglagård before them. Thus, the young couple needs to prove their worth to the older couple before they can purchase/inherit/move in.

I have no idea how Tommy Körberg figures in all of this, except for that he seems to perform some kinda comic relief funny man song at some point, and possibly also feels passionate about the titular farm. Maybe he is Fredrik Lycke and/or Helen Sjöholm's brother (though hopefully not "and" if I'm correct that Helen Sjöholm and Fredrik Lycke are married in this) and the deal is that if you buy/inherit the farm, you gotta let him stay, so he'll be your resident old funny musical man?

Seriously, I have no idea. Looking forward to seeing what this musical is actually about!

[aninsecurewriter]

100 must-read books!

This is a list of books considered "must-reads" from various lists and online posters. I'll be reviewing them as I go but mainly keeping track of what I have and haven't read here.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Matilda by Roald Dahl

The Secret History by Donna Tart

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Norwegian Wood bt Haruki Murakami

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Lolita Vladimir Nabokov

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

The Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Ulysses by James Joyce

Bad Science by Ben Goldacre

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Wild Swans by Jung Chang

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

Gulliver's Travels by Johnathan Swift

The War of the Worlds by H.G Wells

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt

Persuasion by Jane Austen

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Beloved by Toni Morrison

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis

Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson

Macbeth by Shakespeare

The Lord of the Rings (trilogy) by J.R.R Tolkien

The Outsiders by S.E Hinton

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami

Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally

London Fields by Martin Amis

Sherlock Holmes and the The Hound of the Baskerville's by Arthur Conan Doyle

My Man Jeeves by P.G Wodehouse

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Gladys Aylward the Little Woman by Gladys Aylward

Mindnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

Tess of the D'Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy

The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian

Dissolution by C.J Sansom

The Time Machine by H.G Wells

Winnie the Pooh (complete collection) by A.A Milne

Animal Farm by George Orwell

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

The Castle by Franz Kafka

Dracula by Bram Stoker

All Quiet on the Western Front by Eric Maria Remarque

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Misery by Stephen King

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis

The Shining by Stephen King

The Odyssey by Homer

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson

Tell No One by Harlan Coben

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Middlemarch by George Eliot

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

[halloweenvalentine1997]

A recommended reading list of books I own and have read

A Demon in my View by Ruth Rendell

A Judgment in Stone by Ruth Rendell

A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett

A Season in Purgatory by Dominick Dunne

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

A Spy in the House of Love by Anais Nin

All Around the Town by Mary Higgins Clark

An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

Anthem by Ayn Rand

Bag of Bones by Stephen King

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Breaking Blue by Timothy Egan

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

Carrie by Stephen King

Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas

Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Dark Tales by Shirley Jackson

Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean

Dead Run by Erica Spindler

Dream Girl by Laura Lippman

Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

Every Breath You Take by Ann Rule

Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Fatal Flowers by Rosemary Daniell

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

Garden of Shadows by V.C. Andrews

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison

Green River, Running Red by Ann Rule

Help the Poor Struggler by Martha Grimes

High Lonesome by Joyce Carol Oates

I Am the Only Running Footman by Martha Grimes

I Know You Know by Gilly Macmillan

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Joanne Greenberg

If You Really Loved Me by Ann Rule

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Just Kids by Patti Smith

Lost Souls by Lisa Jackson

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

Menfreya in the Morning by Victoria Holt

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

My Sweet Audrina by by V.C. Andrews

Never Look Back by Alison Gaylin

Night Gaunts by Joyce Carol Oates

Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger

Nowhere Like Home by Sara Shepard

Over Tumbled Graves by Jess Walter

Pearl in the Mist by V.C. Andrews

Petals on the Wind by V.C. Andrews

Pursuit by Joyce Carol Oates

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Ruby by V.C. Andrews

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb

Slenderman by Kathleen Hale

Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule

Southern Cross by Patricia Cornwell

Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse

Suicide Blonde by Darcey Steinke

Summer by Edith Wharton

Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

The 9th Girl by Tami Hoag

The Accursed by Joyce Carol Oates

The Anodyne Necklace by Martha Grimes

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

The Blooding by Joseph Wambaugh

The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfeld

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

The Cutler series by V.C. Andrews

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

The Deer Leap by Martha Grimes

The Doll Master by Joyce Carol Oates

The Elizas by Sara Shepard

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

The Female of the Species by Joyce Carol Oates

The Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

The Hudson series by V.C. Andrews

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

The It Girl by Ruth Ware

The Logan series by V.C. Andrews

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

The Old Contemptibles By Martha Grimes

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Prince of Lost Places by Kathy Hepinstall

The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence

The Right Hand of Evil by John Saul

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

The Shining by Stephen King

The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls

The Stand by Stephen King

The Strange Beautiful by Carla Crujido

The Sundial by Shirley Jackson

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

The Third Twin by Ken Follett

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

The Turn of the Screw & Daisy Miller by Henry James

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller

Vanish by Tess Gerritsen

Villette by Charlotte Bronte

Wait for Me by Sara Shepard

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Watching You by Lisa Jewell

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

What Remains of Me by Alison Gaylin

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

White Oleander by Janet Fitch

Wonderland by Joyce Carol Oates

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

[aristobun]

‘ I can’t believe you remembered my favourite book, ’ her eyes scan his own as she holds the beautifully decorated book with both hands, pressing it close to her chest. ‘ I always wanted to be Cathy growing up, ’ she chuckles.

‘ Of course I remembered, älskling—we’ve been together for a long enough time for me to not forget, ’ he laughs, amused as he imagined why she would ever believe he might forget such an important detail about her.

This particular copy of the book was very special, compared to most others. It had gold printing on the cover, as well as highly illustrated pages on the inside, which had made her tear up an awful lot when she noticed. A special edition that cost him too much money, according to Helene, but he would only ever buy her the best in every situation, no matter the price.

‘ This is one of the best gifts you’ve ever bought me, Joakim, ’ her smile bloomed all the more as she took a few steps closer and placed a kiss on his lips as a thank you. Her hands held on to the book the whole time, the smooth cover adorned in gold leaf illustration present beneath her fingertips. ‘ Thank you. ’

Joey smiles at her adoringly, his arms circling around her and pulling her closer to him to go in for another kiss. He couldn’t be happier to see such a response from a book he had chosen for her, on a random tuesday afternoon. There was no special occasion to speak of, he just felt like surprising his wife.

‘ You’re worth every penny I spend on you, Helene. I’m so glad you like the book—maybe we could watch the ‘92 film tonight, if you’d like to? ’ he suggests, pulling away just enough to look at the expression on her face, one of complete happiness.

‘ Are you after something? ’ she asks, chuckling as she jokingly implies that all of this is some sort of bribe.

A gasp leaves him, but the twinkle in his eyes indicates he’s in on the joke and knows she’s only pulling his leg. ' I would never do anything so outrageous, ’ he chuckles right along with her, grabbing her hand while she holds the book in her other, then guides her through to the living room where the whole room is set up for movie night, complete with lighting and popcorn.

Now it is her turn to gasp, shifting her gaze from the room to her husband and flinging her arms around his neck after very carefully placing the delicate book down on the coffee table in case it gets damaged. Nothing was sweeter than this moment right here and she refused for a good ten minutes to let go of him.

‘ I love you so much, Joakim, ’ she says, teary eyed.

' And I, you, Helene, ’ he responds, perching on the sofa with her and making sure they are both snuggly under the blanket and the bowl of popcorn is between them, as he flicks the tv on to browse for one of her favourite movies.

[litgenchronicles]

Chick Lit: A Genre for the Modern Woman.

What is Chick Lit?

Chick lit is a term used to describe a type of popular fiction that targets young women as its main audience. The term is derived from the slang word “chick”, meaning a young woman, and “lit”, short for literature. Chick lit novels typically deal with topics such as romance, friendship, career, family, and personal growth, often in a humorous and lighthearted tone. Chick lit is not a subgenre of romance, although it may include romantic elements. Rather, chick lit is a genre that emphasizes the heroine’s journey of self-discovery and empowerment, as well as her relationships with other women.

How did Chick Lit emerge and evolve?

Chick lit is a relatively new genre that emerged in the 1990s and gained popularity in the 2000s. Some of the precursors of chick lit include novels by Terry McMillan, such as Waiting to Exhale (1992), which portrayed the lives of four African-American women in their 30s, and Bridget Jones’s Diary (1996) by Helen Fielding, which chronicled the humorous adventures of a single British woman in her 30s. These novels were followed by a wave of similar books by authors such as Candace Bushnell, Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, Jennifer Weiner, and Meg Cabot, among others. Chick lit also spawned several subgenres, such as mommy lit, which focuses on the challenges of motherhood, and historical chick lit, which sets the stories in the past.

What are the characteristics and themes of Chick Lit?

Chick lit novels usually feature a female protagonist who is in her 20s or 30s, living in a big city, and working in a creative or glamorous profession. She is often single or dating, and looking for love, happiness, and fulfillment. She is also witty, smart, and independent, but sometimes insecure, clumsy, or flawed. Chick lit novels often use a first-person narrative, with a conversational and confessional style. They also tend to include references to pop culture, fashion, and consumerism.

Some of the common themes of chick lit are:

Finding one’s identity and purpose in life.

Balancing work and personal life.

Navigating the dating scene and romantic relationships.

Dealing with family and social pressures and expectations.

Coping with change and challenges.

Celebrating female friendship and solidarity.

What are some notable examples of Chick Lit?

There are many examples of chick lit novels that have been bestsellers, critically acclaimed, or adapted into movies or TV shows. Here are some of them:

Sex and the City (1997) by Candace Bushnell: A collection of essays that follows the lives and loves of four fashionable women in New York City. It was adapted into a popular TV series and two movies.

Confessions of a Shopaholic (2000) by Sophie Kinsella: The first book in a series that tells the story of Becky Bloomwood, a financial journalist who has a compulsive shopping habit and a knack for getting into trouble. It was made into a movie in 2009.

The Devil Wears Prada (2003) by Lauren Weisberger: A novel that exposes the dark side of the fashion industry, as seen through the eyes of Andrea Sachs, a young assistant to a ruthless magazine editor. It was turned into a movie in 2006, starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2001) by Ann Brashares: A novel that follows the adventures of four teenage girls who share a pair of jeans that magically fits them all. It was adapted into two movies in 2005 and 2008.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005) by Stieg Larsson: A thriller that introduces Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant hacker and social misfit who teams up with a journalist to solve a murder mystery. It was the first book in a trilogy that became an international sensation and was adapted into several movies.

Conclusion.

Chick lit is a genre that reflects the realities and aspirations of many women in the 21st century. It offers entertainment, escapism, and empowerment to its readers, as well as insights into the issues and dilemmas that they face. Chick lit is also a genre that celebrates diversity, creativity, and individuality, as well as the bonds of sisterhood and friendship. Chick lit is not a trivial or superficial genre, but a valid and valuable form of literature that deserves respect and recognition.

[vegalores]

ooc. i'm so obsessed with this generator and creating actual visuals of my muses <3 it's not always perfect by any means, but when it's accurate to the description, it's magical <3 it's the perchance generator if anyone wants it <3 my favourite art styles from the dropdown are ' casual photo ' and ' cinematic ', but there's a bunch of them, including different decades which is fun.

[brookston]

Holidays 5.28

Holidays

Abolition Day (Saint Martin)

Amnesty International Day

Araw ng Watawat (Philippines)

Armed Forces Day (Croatia)

Border Guards Day (Russia)

Border Patrol Day (US)

Contemplate Your Vicissitudes Day

Dniester Day (Moldova)

Downfall of the Derg Day (Ethiopia)

Feast of Zerowork

Flag Day (Philippines)

Ganatantra Diwas (Nepal)

Gardeners Practice Patience Day

Gone-ta-Pott Day [every 28th]

Harambe Day

International Butler’s Day

International Day for the Unreached

International Day of Action for Women’s Health

International Day of Treacher Collins Syndrome

International Hug a Musician Day

International Masturbation Day

James Bond Day

Kiev Day (Ukraine)

Menstrual Hygiene Day

National Girl Power Day

National MDR Day

National Multiple Births Awareness Day

Republic Day (Nepal)

Sierra Club Day

Slugs Return From Capistrano Day

Tano Day (aka Swing Day; Korea)

TDFR Republic Day (Armenia, Azerbaijan)

Telugu Self-Respect Day (India)

Wankers Day (Australia, UK)

Whale Day

Whooping Crane Day

Wild Thyme Day (French Republic)

Women in Trousers Day

World Blood Cancer Day

World Dhole Day

World Dugong Day

World Hunger Day

National Jake Day

National MDR Day

World Menstrual Hygiene Day

World Play Day

Youm-e-Takbit (Pakistan)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Crab Day

International Hamburger Day

Jell-O Day

National Beef Burger Day

National Brisket Day

World Passion Fruit Martini Day

4th & Last Sunday in May

Cavalcata Sarda (Sardinia) [Last Sunday]

Children’s Day (Hungary) [Last Sunday]

Indianapolis 500 Race Day [Sunday before Memorial Day/8 Days before 1st Monday in June]

Mad Sunday (Isle of Man) [Last Sunday]

Neighbor Day [8 Days before the 1st Monday in June]

Palo Dei Balestrieri (Italy) [Last Sunday]

Independence Days

Armenia (TDFR Day; from Ottoman Empire, 1918)

Azerbaijan (from Russian Empire, 1918)

Feast Days

Amnesty International Day (Pastafarian)

Bernard of Menthon (Christian; Saint)

Caraunus (Christian; Saint)

Carl Larsson (Artology)

Constantine (Positivist; Saint)

Edward Teach Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Einherjar (Fallen Soldiers Celebration; Norse)

Germain of Paris (Christian; Saint)

Ian Fleming (Humanism; Saint)

Insect Hearing Festival (Japan; Shinto)

John Calvin (Episcopal Church)

Lanfranc (Christian; Saint)

Margaret Pole (Christian; Saint)

Media Ver IV (Pagan)

Pere Ubu Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Scuzullo (Muppetism)

7th Sunday after Easter [50 Days after Easter] (a.k.a. …

Bread and Cheese Day (Gloucestershire, UK)

Hvitasunnudagur (Iceland; sleeping in on Whitsunday is detrimental to your health, but monsters are asleep through the day and can be taken by surprise) 

Pentecost

Pingstdagen (Sweden)

Romeria del Rocia (Huelva, Spain)

Rurali (Romania)

Tweede Pinksterdag (Netherlands)

Whit Sunday

Whitsuntide

William of Gellone (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 25 of 60)

Premieres

Aquarius (Film; 2015)

As Tears Go By, recorded by Mariann Faithfull (Song; 1964)

Avalon, by Roxy Music (Album; 1982)

The Bourne Supremacy, by Robert Ludlum (Novel; 1986)

Creedence Clearwater Revival, by Creedence Clearwater Revival (Album; 1968)

Cruella (Film; 2021)

The Day After Tomorrow (Film; 2004)

Edge of Tomorrow (Film; 2014)

A Face in the Crowd (Film; 1957)

The Goon Show (UK Radio Show; 1951)

Hatfields & McCoys (TV Mini-Series; 2012)

The Isle of Ping Pongo (WB MM Cartoon; 1938)

It’s a Small World (Disneyland Ride; 1966)

King Lear (Film; 2018)

Lorenzo (Disney Cartoon; 2004)

Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man, by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty (Song; 1973)

Maleficent (Film; 2014)

Melody (Disney Cartoon; 1953)

Notting Hill (Film; 1999)

Oh What a Knight (Disney Cartoon; 1928)

Raising Helen (Film; 2004)

Rocky III (Film; 1982)

Saved! (Film; 2004)

Songs For Beginners, by Graham Nash (Album; 1971)

Stop Making Sense (Concert Film; 1999)

Super Mario Bros. (Film; 1993)

Tickle Me (Film; 1965)

Walking the Floor Over You, by Ernest Tubb (Song; 1941)

Wicked (Musical Play; 2003)

Today’s Name Days

August, Bruno, Randolph (Austria)

Augustin, Bruno, Julije (Croatia)

Valdemar (Czech Republic)

Lucian (Denmark)

Kalvi, Klaudia (Estonia)

Ritva (Finland)

Augustin (France)

August, Bruno, Randolph (Germany)

Alypios, Ioannis Rossos (Greece)

Hella (Hungary)

Agostino, Federico, Oliviero (Italy)

Dzidra, Gunita, Henrijs, Ludolfs (Latvia)

Augustinas, Brunonas, Leonora, Virgaudas, Žymantė (Lithuania)

Cato, Katinka (Norway)

Beda, Izydor, Jan, Juliusz, Lucjan, Magdalena, Radowit (Poland)

Ioan (România)

Iveta (Slovakia)

Agustín, Julio (Spain)

Beda, Blenda (Sweden)

Broderick, Brodie, Brody, Isador, Isadora, Isadore, Isidro (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 147 of 2024; 218 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 21 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Huath (Hawthorn) [Day 14 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Ding-Si), Day 9 (Yi-You)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 67Sivan 5783

Islamic: 7 Dhu al-Qada 1444

J Cal: 26 Bīja; Fiveday [26 of 30]

Julian: 14 May 2023

Moon: 60%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 8 St. Paul (6th Month) [Constantine]

Runic Half Month: Odal (Home, Possession) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 69 of 90)

Zodiac: Gemini (Day 7 of 32)

[colleenmurphy]

"I dunno about you Helene but when I opted for the all inclusive package I didn't know that meant our husbands were piloting our private plane. Is he still dancing with the captain's hat on?"

Colleen cast a side long look her husband's way and then shook her head laughing before letting out a startled squawk as a tiny denim speedo hit her square between the eyes and landed in her lap. Her cheek flamed a shade of red usually reserved for fire trucks or city hydrants.

"I hope you have a room 'cause you're not rooming with me!"

"Already booked the presidential! I'll leave a key at the desk for you my lovely lady."

A fumbling stumble and then a hushed hurried discussion.

"It's not funny gimme my pants, Joey. Did they pay you to do this?"

A tanned weathered face popped up from behind the cockpit curtain an embarrassed smile spreading as a pitchy voice requested his speedo as well as the remains of his dignity back.

"I seem to be having some technical difficulties in the clothing department so I'm going to have to ask for you to return the Captain's drawers back...please."

From somewhere in the cockpit next to a snickering copilot Joey Larsson saw a sight he never thought he'd have to. His wife's best friend's husband, virtually his brother in law for God's sake was try color. A deep tan from the outdoor work he did, white from the covered bits, and whatever wasn't tan or white was a deep scarlet shade of red.

"Hey Bruce...anyone ever tell you about a full body blush?"

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 5.28

Holidays

Abolition Day (Saint Martin)

Amnesty International Day

Araw ng Watawat (Philippines)

Armed Forces Day (Croatia)

Border Guards Day (Russia)

Border Patrol Day (US)

Contemplate Your Vicissitudes Day

Dniester Day (Moldova)

Downfall of the Derg Day (Ethiopia)

Feast of Zerowork

Flag Day (Philippines)

Ganatantra Diwas (Nepal)

Gardeners Practice Patience Day

Gone-ta-Pott Day [every 28th]

Harambe Day

International Butler’s Day

International Day for the Unreached

International Day of Action for Women’s Health

International Day of Treacher Collins Syndrome

International Hug a Musician Day

International Masturbation Day

James Bond Day

Kiev Day (Ukraine)

Menstrual Hygiene Day

National Girl Power Day

National MDR Day

National Multiple Births Awareness Day

Republic Day (Nepal)

Sierra Club Day

Slugs Return From Capistrano Day

Tano Day (aka Swing Day; Korea)

TDFR Republic Day (Armenia, Azerbaijan)

Telugu Self-Respect Day (India)

Wankers Day (Australia, UK)

Whale Day

Whooping Crane Day

Wild Thyme Day (French Republic)

Women in Trousers Day

World Blood Cancer Day

World Dhole Day

World Dugong Day

World Hunger Day

National Jake Day

National MDR Day

World Menstrual Hygiene Day

World Play Day

Youm-e-Takbit (Pakistan)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Crab Day

International Hamburger Day

Jell-O Day

National Beef Burger Day

National Brisket Day

World Passion Fruit Martini Day

4th & Last Sunday in May

Cavalcata Sarda (Sardinia) [Last Sunday]

Children’s Day (Hungary) [Last Sunday]

Indianapolis 500 Race Day [Sunday before Memorial Day/8 Days before 1st Monday in June]

Mad Sunday (Isle of Man) [Last Sunday]

Neighbor Day [8 Days before the 1st Monday in June]

Palo Dei Balestrieri (Italy) [Last Sunday]

Independence Days

Armenia (TDFR Day; from Ottoman Empire, 1918)

Azerbaijan (from Russian Empire, 1918)

Feast Days

Amnesty International Day (Pastafarian)

Bernard of Menthon (Christian; Saint)

Caraunus (Christian; Saint)

Carl Larsson (Artology)

Constantine (Positivist; Saint)

Edward Teach Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Einherjar (Fallen Soldiers Celebration; Norse)

Germain of Paris (Christian; Saint)

Ian Fleming (Humanism; Saint)

Insect Hearing Festival (Japan; Shinto)

John Calvin (Episcopal Church)

Lanfranc (Christian; Saint)

Margaret Pole (Christian; Saint)

Media Ver IV (Pagan)

Pere Ubu Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Scuzullo (Muppetism)

7th Sunday after Easter [50 Days after Easter] (a.k.a. …

Bread and Cheese Day (Gloucestershire, UK)

Hvitasunnudagur (Iceland; sleeping in on Whitsunday is detrimental to your health, but monsters are asleep through the day and can be taken by surprise) 

Pentecost

Pingstdagen (Sweden)

Romeria del Rocia (Huelva, Spain)

Rurali (Romania)

Tweede Pinksterdag (Netherlands)

Whit Sunday

Whitsuntide

William of Gellone (Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 25 of 60)

Premieres

Aquarius (Film; 2015)

As Tears Go By, recorded by Mariann Faithfull (Song; 1964)

Avalon, by Roxy Music (Album; 1982)

The Bourne Supremacy, by Robert Ludlum (Novel; 1986)

Creedence Clearwater Revival, by Creedence Clearwater Revival (Album; 1968)

Cruella (Film; 2021)

The Day After Tomorrow (Film; 2004)

Edge of Tomorrow (Film; 2014)

A Face in the Crowd (Film; 1957)

The Goon Show (UK Radio Show; 1951)

Hatfields & McCoys (TV Mini-Series; 2012)

The Isle of Ping Pongo (WB MM Cartoon; 1938)

It’s a Small World (Disneyland Ride; 1966)

King Lear (Film; 2018)

Lorenzo (Disney Cartoon; 2004)

Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man, by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty (Song; 1973)

Maleficent (Film; 2014)

Melody (Disney Cartoon; 1953)

Notting Hill (Film; 1999)

Oh What a Knight (Disney Cartoon; 1928)

Raising Helen (Film; 2004)

Rocky III (Film; 1982)

Saved! (Film; 2004)

Songs For Beginners, by Graham Nash (Album; 1971)

Stop Making Sense (Concert Film; 1999)

Super Mario Bros. (Film; 1993)

Tickle Me (Film; 1965)

Walking the Floor Over You, by Ernest Tubb (Song; 1941)

Wicked (Musical Play; 2003)

Today’s Name Days

August, Bruno, Randolph (Austria)

Augustin, Bruno, Julije (Croatia)

Valdemar (Czech Republic)

Lucian (Denmark)

Kalvi, Klaudia (Estonia)

Ritva (Finland)

Augustin (France)

August, Bruno, Randolph (Germany)

Alypios, Ioannis Rossos (Greece)

Hella (Hungary)

Agostino, Federico, Oliviero (Italy)

Dzidra, Gunita, Henrijs, Ludolfs (Latvia)

Augustinas, Brunonas, Leonora, Virgaudas, Žymantė (Lithuania)

Cato, Katinka (Norway)

Beda, Izydor, Jan, Juliusz, Lucjan, Magdalena, Radowit (Poland)

Ioan (România)

Iveta (Slovakia)

Agustín, Julio (Spain)

Beda, Blenda (Sweden)

Broderick, Brodie, Brody, Isador, Isadora, Isadore, Isidro (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 147 of 2024; 218 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 21 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Huath (Hawthorn) [Day 14 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Ding-Si), Day 9 (Yi-You)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 67Sivan 5783

Islamic: 7 Dhu al-Qada 1444

J Cal: 26 Bīja; Fiveday [26 of 30]

Julian: 14 May 2023

Moon: 60%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 8 St. Paul (6th Month) [Constantine]

Runic Half Month: Odal (Home, Possession) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 69 of 90)

Zodiac: Gemini (Day 7 of 32)