#how to read

[journalette]

I started a new blog called @ontakingnotes where I post everything related to, well, taking notes.

My premise has always been that a notebook is a tool of thought. However, the socioeconomic climate today promotes the commodification of self-improvement practices such as journaling, often reducing them to what's see-able, post-able, like-able, and purchasable.

Far from being grudgy and judgemental, I am the first person to post pictures of my notes, journals, etc. I am also trying to be more thoughtful in my consumption, and in my online presence. By that I mean I am trying to be more careful in what I take or give to the (on/off line) community. But I am not self-decieving and that’s why I recognize I will probably keep sharing this kind of content, because it makes me feel good and it is also a form of self-expression.

All that is to say that although the aesthetic part of taking notes is very valuable, it is also hyper-explored. And most importantly, it is not what note-taking is all about, contrary to what retailers want you to think.

If you want to expand your vision of the meaning and the different ways there exist of keeping a notebook, this is for you. In this new blog, you will find inspiring classifications, diagrams, metaphors, and reflections on note-taking and how it might actually change the way you think, and therefore, your life.

[0purplegurl0]

(Not mine image!!1!!)

This is literally me after summer (i go to school on next monday or this sunday)

[the-lost-adventurers]

how to get out of a reading slump

I won't lie, I've been in a bit of a reading slump recently. So here are my tips!

1 - don't beat yourself up. that's not gonna help! just accept it, it's not the end of the world, and move on.

2 - schedule a time to read every day. E.g. I always read whilst I eat my breakfast, and usually before bed aswell, if I'm in a slump.

3 - start a new book, one that has a slightly different genre from what you were reading before. it'll get your brain to switch to a different type of engagement.

4 - stop looking at other people's progress! reading is not a competition, it is simply about enjoying your books. chill.

5 - enjoy it! and don't put pressure on it. if you aren't enjoying the book, start a different one. you can always come back to it later.

[nik-jr-lit]

dude, that's not literary analysis...that's just your opinion

Every time I finish a good book, I close the cover (or turn off my Kindle), sit back, and savor the moment. Joy, heartache, peace, excitement - whatever feeling I have, I let myself relish in it.

And then I promptly turn on my computer and look to see what others thought about it.

At some reflections I clap my hands in joy, exclaiming "yes! Exactly!" while others I cannot help but groan aloud and tut while reading it through; I can't help but read even those scathing ones in their entirety in case just a sliver of their theory strikes my fancy.

I must say that I don't dislike literary analyses or reviews that are different than mine; really, I don't think two people could have a perfectly identical stance - there is always a difference, even if by only a shade. If I avoided all claims that differed from my preferences then I should keep myself away entirely. No, I really do appreciate hearing from everyone: what did they think of the setting, our protagonist, the diction? Were they fooled by the villain? Who was good and who was evil? Was anyone truly righteous?

I expect the answers to these questions to be different among us all, but I do struggle with claims that resort primarily to feeling rather than reason (yes, I'm looking at you in the back, Brontë). Of course we are meant to feel - this is art, people! Literature is supposed to evoke emotion from us; if we had no empathy for the plot, the characters, the situation...there would be no point. We are meant to relate - perhaps a character is uncannily similar to that nosy librarian we know, and we can perfectly understand the narrator's feelings of exasperation and spite. Or maybe we remember our own bittersweet love story as we watch our young protagonist fall, feeling the clammy hands and hot cheeks as well as they do. Yes, we are certainly meant to feel, but we cannot trust those feelings to always lead us to truth.

It's only been in recent years that I've taken pains to think critically about the reliability of narration; we cannot assume what we're told is the God-given truth. Characters have biases, prejudices, history, and feelings. I think it equally important that we examine our own feelings and responses to ascertain just how reliable we ourselves are. We view situations, relationships, characters, or settings with a lens specific to us, and these undoubtedly impact our literary analyses as much as our emotional responses. We must take care to detach ourselves, as best as we're able, and test our theories and critiques by fire to see whether they stand true. Sometimes, we can sufficiently perform this test in our own minds during the drafting period, and other times it takes a peer to see the chink in our armor. Be gracious and forgiving to yourself and to others during these times; it's difficult to admit to blindness, especially when we experience blindness of self.

[meilooruns-a-go-go]

Basic rules for analysing fiction, an incomprehensive list jotted down in a hurry:

The protagonist isn’t always right

The protagonist isn’t always good

The protagonist isn’t always written to be relatable or likeable

The narrator isn’t always right

The narrator isn’t always good

The narrator isn’t always telling the truth

The narrator isn’t always the author

The protagonist’s moral compass, the narrator’s moral compass and the author’s moral compass are three entirely different things that only occasionally overlap

Pay attention to what characters do and not just what they say

Pay special attention when what the characters do is at odds with what they say

A lot of the time the curtains are blue for a reason. If they aren’t, you should read better books

[starbuck]

“…to me” is one of the most powerful disclaimers we have on here… is this character analysis accurate? debatable. but it’s real… to me.

[unsung-idiot]

don't show him modern technology; it won't end well

bonus under the cut:

[wintergrofyuri]

"(blank) hates laios!" WRONG WRONG WRONG. SHUT THE FUCK UP

shuro is just as awkward as laios and it is made So clear he considers him a friend and likes him. he defends him when the canaries start talking shit and actively readies himself to physically fight them so they dont get to him.

namari also likes laios. she respects him as a leader and also defends him and readies to fight the canaries.

ive not actually seen anyone claim izutsumi hates laios, but a lot of ppl Are weird abt them. izutsumi and laios' relationship was rocky at the beginning. he struggled to figure out how to interact with her. but by the end, she actively seeks him out to talk with during the lead up to the feast. she hides behind him when falin wakes up. she has already realized shecan do what she wants and does not need to stick around, yet she does. she sleeps near him on the windowsill, waiting with him and marcille for falin to wake up. she has accepted him as part of her life and wants to keep him in it.

marcille does not hate laios. let me say this again.

Marcille Donato Does Not Hate Laios Touden.

marcille Loves him. in a platonic, familial sense. laios returns this just as readily. she yells at him. she whacks him. she tells him whats on her mind. she uses healing magic to ease his pain during the parasite fiasco. she reattaches his leg when he loses it. she teaches him magic. she lays her head on his corpse and cries before reviving him. she launches herself at him two times, when the canaries interrogate them and when he talks her down in the tower. he is a comforting presence to her. she trusts him, she cares about him, she worries about him, she imagines him as a big fluffy dog that loves and protects her. laios is her rock when falin is taken from them time and time again. and she tries to be his as well. she whole-heartedly, unconditionally, loves and trusts laios.

chilchuck does not hate laios. laios pays him his rates, no questions asked. laios trusts and respects chilchuck's job as a lockpick. laios does not see him as a child (at least, i cant think of an instance where he does so). chilchuck states, outright, he sees him as a friend and doesnt want to see him hurt. he actively worries about him as the falin situation gets worse. chilchuck respects laios. he shows almost 0 hesitation in helping get falin back, nor eating her by the end. he does not think of leaving him once, until he realizes he could lose him. chilchuck is cowardly with emotions and prefers to bottle things, so his first instinct was to bolt. he was angry because he was scared of watching someone he cares about destroy himself. laios is his Friend.

and holy shit. holy Fucking shit. kabru DOES NOT hate laios. kabru has the rockiest start known to man with him, and he Still helps him by occupying the canaries. he warns him about them. he hides the black magic from them just as shuro does. his whole Thing is trusting laios despite himself. kabru has his own baggage regarding other people, just like laios, yet he tries so hard to believe and trust this man. he Wants to. kabru is not very hopeful, but laios makes him Want to be. he states like 3 times he wants to be close to him and sees him as a friend. he stays through the entire feast!! the man who hates monsters, whose biggest trigger is monsters, actively, consciously, Willingly stayed through the entire monster meat feast. all to help his friend get his sister back. he could've left!! the feast was like an entire week!! yet he was there for every single day. he was one of the closest people to the door when falin awoke!! after reuniting with her brother, her friends, the people who knew her the most (plus senshi and izutsumi), the first person she greets is kabru!! he wants to be close to laios, he likes laios, laios is his friend and he cares for him, he wants to meet his sister!!! kabru fucking stays on the island with him as one of his closest, most trusted advisors when he becomes king!!!!! he wants to help him succeed!!!! he wants him to be happy!!!! laios is his friend!!!!!!!!

im just. people like laios!! laios is a nice guy! he is friendly and cares about people! he is weird, he doesn't understand most social cues, he oversteps boundaries, but they stay beside him, because they like him and he is their friend. he is their friend!!!!! friendship is not all sunshine and rainbows, relationships in general are not sunshine and rainbows. you will upset people, people will upset you, you will get into arguments, things will happen, but at the end of the day, the people close to you like you! they love you! they care for you! they want to work it out and get through it because they love you, but they will feel those emotions first! human relationships are complex and messy and life is complicated. even shows for toddlers know this.

if you truly believe any of these characters hate laios you are worse than a toddler. watch some fucking oobi or something. god. fuck.

take this

thanks

[partlysmith]

leftist media discussion: "While this show said "trans rights" directly without any ambiguity, one plot element of this children's show could be considered morally questionable after 25 degrees of separation, so the author must be a heckin fascist"

right wing media discussion: "Well it happened. The reboot of Female Protagonist Fights Unsubtle Allegory for Capitalism That I Was Too Young to Notice as a Kid -our last bastion of apolitical entertainment- has gone woke because they made a supporting character black"

centrist media discussion: "did you see the latest episode of Sword Hero Cleanses the Undesirables on crunchyroll? best show of the year imo"

[allgremlinart]

au where Aang gets told he's the Avatar (and subsequently frozen) at 16 like he was supposed to.... I think it would change a lot honestly

[gibbearish]

love when ppl defend the aggressive monetization of the internet with "what, do you just expect it to be free and them not make a profit???" like. yeah that would be really nice actually i would love that:)! thanks for asking

[morganbritton132]

No one tells you when you get a Big Serious Job™ how many fucking abbreviations you’ll be forced to learn.

[doyouknowthisdragartist]

"what's the appeal of drag kings" because women are my favorite guy next question

[cozystars]

!!! BUILT LIKE BILBO BAGGINS !!!

[bisclavaret]

a day late to my 6 years on t anniversary ✨🏳️‍⚧️ a short comic about looking back

[illusioncanthurtme--art]

Physically? I am sitting in my bedroom. Mentally? Spiritually? I AM DEAD ON THE FLOOR!!!!! THESE TWO HAVE KILLED ME!!!!

(Another drawing! This was originally attempt #1 at drawing stan, and then fiddleford just showed up. Kinda feels like them five minutes after the above acting like nothing happened though, so it works sdjkgkjfshj)