#may reading wrapup

[bookishfreedom]

may & june wrap up 📚

may was a fabulous reading month, in both quantity and quality of books. june was, unfortunately, lacking in both. here’s hoping july takes after may 🤞

Books read in May, * for new favorites:

✨Transcendent Kingdom (library book)

✨Immortal Longings* (library book)

✨The Miseducation of Cameron Post

✨Falling

✨In Five Years

✨Girl Gone Viral

✨title not included due to the SMP boycott*

✨The Honeymoon Crashers* (audiobook, not pictured)

✨The Deal (ebook, not pictured)

Books read in June:

✨Outrun the Wind

✨The Hunting Party

✨My Body

[cocoawithbooks]

May Reading Wrap-up: Top-Notch Audiobook Narrators

I experienced my first Maycember this year with all of my kids finally in elementary school together. And June is not indicating that there will be any slow downs. However, I was able to read everything on my Reading Goals TBR. That, my friends, is a rare feat for this busy mood reader. Through the power of audiobooks I also finished a few more! I recommend every audiobook that I listened to this…

[lizziethereader]

May 2024 wrapup

not pictured: - Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert - A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy [read for work] - Holes by Louis Sachar - Choke by Chuck Palahniuk [another work read]

In May, life was also waaay too busy to allow for a lot of reading. It was also a mostly underwhelming reading month, if I'm honest.

favorite of the month: The Toll by Neal Shusterman

nonfiction of the month (2.5): Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Mindset by Carol S. Dweck, and technically The Little Frog's Guide to Self-Care by Maybell Eequay is also nonfiction

classics (1.5): The Well Pursuit of the Well-Beloved and The Well-Beloved by Thomas Hardy (these are two versions of the same story)

poetry (1): Poems about trees, edited by Thomas Harry

graphic novel (1): Squire by Nadia Shammas and illustrated by Sara Alfageeh

[queen-paladin]

My Books and other Media: April 2024 Wrap up!!!

Here is what I thought of these! As well as some video essays I LOVED because I eat those up!

The Time I Got Drunk and Saved A Demon by Lemming:

A hilarious romantasy adventure romp! Our Heroine, Cin, has to team up with a demon to go on an adventure when they find out that their goddess possesses demons to attack people and the only way to stop her is to destroy her sacred items. It's laugh-out-loud funny one minute and sweet, romantic, and very spicy the next. I would highly recommend it! 5/5

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Starling

In a Victorian AU world, Jane doesn't want to be stuck as a spinster figure of pity with her adopted family, so she agrees to be in a marriage of convenience with a surgeon named Augustine Lawrence. Things seem to be going great until on her wedding night, she is dropped off at the manor house he lives in...at the haunted manor house he lives in. Since Crimson Peak is one of my favorite movies and this book was inspired by it, I had to pick it up and I was not disappointed! Very much had the same vibes but is distinctly its own thing! I liked Jane and her practicality and I loved Augustine and how much of a pathetic meow meow and simping malewife he was for her. There is plenty of scary, gruesome imagery and I kept being so nervous, thinking "how is Jane gonna deal with this?" Plus there was a pretty darn good twist in the last third and I was genuinely surprised by the ending, without giving anything away The only thing is that sometimes the prose is so poetic that it becomes vague, especially one section right before the very end. But I loved it! 4/5

Bride

Okay, so in a nutshell, this is an arranged marriage story between the vampire Misery and the werewolf Lowe, since the vampires, werewolves, and humans have been in constant conflict. For what I liked, the book was really funny. I enjoyed Misery's sarcasm, snark, and badassery and the romance felt developed and real. This is infamous for the omegaverse elements in the smut, but it wasn't overwhelming for someone who hasn't read a lot and I heard it's TAME compared to fanfiction. I especially liked Misery's friend Serena and I ADORED her relationship with Lowe's kid sister, Ana, who is so adorable and funny. My only qualms are that the romance felt slow to start, there were a lot of bland, forgettable side characters to keep track of, and the climax felt rushed and unclear. 4/5.

Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Fawcett

My favorite book of the month! This tells of socially awkward, incredibly intelligent professor Emily Wilde in the early 1900's. She is a professor of Fairy studies and is off in a tiny Scandinavian village to study the fairies there. Who else should show up but her charming, rakish rival in academia, Wendell Bambleby. They realize how much the fairies have messed up the local villagers and plan to take action. Okay, I LOVE that the fairies and the fae feel so much like the fairy tales and folklore of yore. The author did her homework! These aren't the hot people with wings and six-packs of Sarah J Maas. They are inhuman, immensely powerful, and can bless you or curse you in a minute's notice if you take the wrong step. I adored Emily and she seemed very much coded as neurodivergent with her passion for fairies her fear of offending others by saying the wrong thing and her lack of reading into social cues. And WENDELL BAMBLEBY! My BambleBook Boyfriend. He is a mix of Prince Hal from The Henriad and Howl from Howl's Moving Castle. He is slutty, constantly inviting his Bambleby Booty Calls, and lazy, having his students do all the work, but he begins to genuinely fall for Emily and is as charming and sweet beneath it all as he can be with a subtle element of "touch her, and you die!" It's dryly hilarious and the third act was incredible. The characters were well-developed and flawed, but still compelling, relatable, and likable. I adored this to death and would HIGHLY recommend it! 5/5

Twisted Love by Huang

In a nutshell, this is a brother's friend and grumpy/sunshine romance. What I love about Ana Huang is that she always knows how to pace and develop a romance between two characters AND her spice is top tier. There are a few funny moments, as well as genuinely sweet ones. However, there are all sorts of elements that veneer into the silly to where I don't take it 100 percent seriously. Like, how our main girl just HAPPENS to be friends with a princess of another country at some public university. And that our main guy is 27 yet a billionaire CEO of a whole company...and he just hangs out with college kids! Like?!?!?!!? I say a good 4/5 just because I always like her.

My Throat an Open Grave by Bovalino

What I expected:

What I got:

Ok, so this teenage girl, Leah, is miserable living in her tiny, religious, conservative town. One night, she is sick of babysitting her baby brother and offers him accidentally to the Lord of the Wood and wouldn't you know it! The Lord of the Wood takes him! So the town tells her she has got to go and get him back, though no girl who runs to the forest for that ever returns. So she gets there and...it's this nice, open minded, cottagecore normal ass village. Other than the premise at the beginning, this isn't Labyrinth but a wholesome Midsomar for kids. Though I do like the middle finger to conservative, small town purity culture, it kind of dragged and wasn't that scary and the stakes weren't high. I expected a scary, folk horror journey, but just got kind of "eh, here's a nice cult that doesn't judge you. You know kid, are you sick of your tiny, repressive town? Here's the answer: join a cult!" There is a really good twist, a scene that got kind of spicy and pushed it for a YA book, and I appreciate that the Jareth in this is around her age instead of some grown ass man offering himself to a minor (sorry, but I am in the minority of Labyrinth who thinks Sarah was right. She made the right choice at the end), it felt like it wasn't the heroes journey I expected and got kind of bland. 3/5

Bonus, My Favorite Video Essays:

The Dark Romance Community is Mad at Me: Okay, this girl, A Model Who Reads, posted a TikTok showing her surprise that the publishing company she works for was releasing a book marked as a Serial Killer Sexual Assault Romance, the dark romance community ATTACKED her in the comments. Here, she explains the problems with it why she isnt' sorry, and her issues with dark romance in full. Insightful, and incredible, and she finally addresses the issue concerning this angry, self-righteous, and unempathetic culture that has emerged recently concerning trigger warnings in media.

Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Video Essay My man, Kyle Kallgren, has done it again! Here, he breaks down Anne Washburn's play Mr Burns, a Post Electric Play, a play that portrays a post-apocalyptic story of a group of survivors recalling a Simpsons episode which then said episode transforms to a staged play to an epic sung through morality opera by the group at the end. He discusses post-apocalyptic media, the evolution of humor, and how humanity always triumphs over adversity. It's funny, deeply human, and chilling and incredibly well researched, in the Kyle KAllgren fashion. Highly recommend it, his channel and all his videos!

[linus-wickworth]

May 2022 Reading Wrap Up

I’ve decided to post what I’ve read each month on here. I only picked up reading again in May, so it starts there.

1. All That's Left in the World by Erik J. Brown. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When Andrew stumbles upon Jamie's house, he's injured, starved, and has nothing left to lose. A deadly pathogen has killed off most of the world's population, including everyone both boys have ever loved. And if this new world has taught them anything, it's to be scared of what other desperate people will do... so why does it seem so easy for them to trust each other?

2. Heartstopper: Volumes 1-4 by Alice Oseman. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more...?

3. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. ⭐⭐⭐

After an international incident affects U.S. and British relations, the president's son Alex and Prince Henry must pretend to be best friends, but as they spend time together, the two begin a secret romance that could derail a presidential campaign.

4. Gone by Michael Grant. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In a small town on the coast of California, everyone over the age of fourteen suddenly disappears, setting up a battle between the remaining town residents and the students from a local private school, as well as those who have "The Power" and are able to perform supernatural feats and those who do not.

5. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

In a near-future New York City where a service alerts people on the day they will die, teenagers Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio meet using the Last Friend app and are faced with the challenge of living a lifetime on their End Day.

6. What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera. ⭐⭐⭐1/2

Told in two voices, when Arthur, a summer intern from Georgia, and Ben, a native New Yorker, meet it seems like fate, but after three attempts at dating fail they wonder if the universe is pushing them together or apart.

[cassiesbookishcorner]

May 2024 Reading WrapUp

[natreads]

2023 reading wrap up

I read 45 books this year, including one for work. I don't typically include those but I was working with the translation of a book and so it had technically already come out so I decided to put it on Goodreads. I have however not included it in this wrapup, so there's only 44 of them here.

Classics (8) 1 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 - ⭐⭐⭐

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (reread) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin (queer, reread) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (e, childrens) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Grey Woman by Elizabeth Gaskell (au) ⭐⭐⭐

Play It as It Lays by Joan Didion (modern) ⭐⭐⭐

The House of Hunger by Dambudzo Marechera ⭐⭐⭐

Slow Days, Fast Company by Eve Babitz (modern) ⭐⭐⭐

Teleny by Anonymous (queer) ⭐⭐⭐

Poetry (4) 1 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1 - ⭐⭐⭐

Dancing in Odessa by Ilya Kaminsky (e) ⭐⭐⭐

Closer Baby Closer by Savannah Brown (e) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Carrying by Ada Limón (au/ph) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Things You May Find Hidden In My Ear by Mosab Abu Toha (e) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Romance (2) 1 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1 - ⭐⭐⭐

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (au) ⭐⭐⭐

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (reread, queer) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Non-fiction (10) 3 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2 - ⭐⭐⭐

Letters to Camondo by Edmund De Waal ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Det är natten by Karolina Ramqvist (sv, e) ⭐⭐⭐

En bok av dagar by Patti Smith (tr) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Kind of Magic by Luke Edward Hall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blir du ledsen om jag dör? by Nicolas Lunabba (sv) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Krigsdagböcker by Astrid Lindgren (sv) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dagbok från 20-talet by Nicolas Lunabba (sv) ⭐⭐⭐

The Forster Cavafy Letters edited by Peter Jeffreys ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Greco Disco by Luke Edward Hall ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fantasy (1) 1 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (au, ph) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Contemporary (19) 1 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9 - ⭐⭐⭐

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin (queer, au) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kärlek i Seoul by Sang Young Park (queer, tr, au) ⭐⭐⭐

Andromeda by Therese Bohman (sv) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Min Far by Annie Ernaux (tr) ⭐⭐⭐

Göra sig kvitt Eddy Bellegueule Édouard Louis (queer, tr) ⭐⭐⭐

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (au) ⭐⭐⭐

After Sappho by Selby Wynn Schwartz (queer) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Babetta by Nina Wähä (au, sv) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Policeman by Bethan Roberts (queer) ⭐⭐⭐

Rumple Buttercup by Matthew Gray Gubler (e, childrens) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Aftonland by Therese Bohman (sv) ⭐⭐⭐

Om uträkning av omfång 1 by Solvej Balle (tr, au) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Adventures of the Seven Christmas Cards by Anthony Horowitz (au) ⭐⭐⭐

Vinternoveller by Ingvild H. Rishøi (tr) ⭐⭐⭐

Heartstopper volume 5 by Alice Oseman (queer, YA) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stargate by Ingvild H. Rishøi (tr, au) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the Absence of Men by Philippe Besson (queer, tr) ⭐⭐⭐

Saint Sebastian’s Abyss by Mark Haber (au) ⭐⭐⭐

Additional info and stats under the cut:

e = ebook au = audiobook ph = physical (only used when I alternated between the audiobook and the physical copy) tr = translated sv = originally in Swedish

Childrens - 2

YA - 1

Middle grade - 1

Graphic novel - 1

Modern classics - 2

Translated - 8 (Korean, English, French x3, Danish x1, Norwegian x2)

Swedish - 7

Audio - 12

E-book - 6

Rereads - 3

Queer - 8

5 stars - 7

4 stars - 18

3 stars - 19

Owned - 30 + bought 1 as e-book)

Unhauled after reading - 8

[godzilla-reads]

📖 November Reading Wrapup 📖

I started off November with 149 books in my pocket and left at 164 books, meaning I read 15 books this month! My top 3 are starred below:

🌎 What You Need to be Warm by Neil Gaiman

⭐️ Rules for a Knight by Ethan Hawke

🪐 Alone in Space: A Collection by Tillie Walden

⭐️ Faeries by Brian Froud and Alan Lee

��️ Other Ever Afters: New Queer Fairy Tales by Melanie Gillman

💍 The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

🗻 So Far So Good: Final Poems 2014-2018 by Ursula K. Le Guin

🧟 Zombie Penpal by Ken McMurtry

🧄 Garlic & the Vampire by Bree Paulsen

🐥 Poems About Birds edited by H.J. Massingham

❄️ The Naked Tree by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim (trans. Janet Hong)

🐲 The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin

⭐️ Things You May Find Hidden in my Ear: Poems from Gaza by Mosab Abu Toha

🏴‍☠️ One Piece Vol. 6: The Oath by Eiichiro Oda

🍄 How to See Fairies and Other Tales by Charles van Sandwyk

[cyvonix]

Cyv Reads Homestuck - The Final Wrapup

This is my last post for the main comic, covering all of Act 6 Act 6 as well as Act 7.

God I feel like I have so much to say but no way to properly put it into a neat little bow so it might be a little more like me just rambling passionately. Hey that's like the perfect allegory for Homestuck.

Anyway if you just want the TL;DR for how I'm feeling overall, I feel it should almost go without saying I fucking loved this story. I can say with complete certainty that it has been a landmark in media I've consumed and will assuredly alter the way I consume things moving forward. In the several months it's taken me to finish, I've grown so attached to this story and these characters, and despite any qualms I may have with it (and trust me, there are plenty) I think it is a wonderfully creative and excellent piece of art that I'm going to continue loving for a long time. It does so many things I've never seen a work like this do before, and it takes advantage of its format in so many masterful ways that it ends up a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of so many styles and mediums that makes it truly stand on its own as something special. As I prepare to read the continuation of the official content and assuredly follow various fan adventures, fan projects, art, music and all of these amazing things that have spawned from this, I just want to make it as clear as possible: I cannot overstate the positive impact this weird little webcomic has had on me.

So that's that. I think now I probably wanna get a bit more into the nitty gritty stuff and delve into some of my more specific opinions. Here's the problem: I have a fuck ton. Seriously, if I were to properly articulate all the thoughts I have on this work, we would be here all god damn day and I would get tired of typing and you would get tired of scrolling. So I'm just gonna kind of go with the flow and go where my brain wants to go with this post. I figure I should probably get some complaints out of the way first, because I don't wanna end this on a sour note, but I do wanna mention them, because Homestuck does certainly have its problems:

Pretty obviously, the early comic was entrenched in a 2000s edgy forum culture that made it a little cringe to read sometimes. The ableist language that was liberally used as well as pretty distasteful jokes pertaining to race and sexuality make some of these early sections age a bit like milk. Fortunately, this takes a massive dip after around Act 4, but it still lingers a while after, and it obviously didn't ruin anything for me and isn't like, EGREGIOUS, but it still makes me think like man I wish this stuff wasn't here because it adds nothing and feels so out of place in the current day.

Speaking of race, and specifically racial representation, oops! There's none! I know, I know, I know. "Aracial". And that's all well and good in theory, but it's pretty obvious that Hussie wrote these characters from a decidedly white perspective and as a result that's just naturally how they read, despite any excuse he used to try making for it. And that in itself isn't some massive problem, just a note on the authorial bias at play. But then the only ones who don't read as white? The violent one who uses broken, obviously uninformed AAVE, and the japanese schoolgirl who speaks in bad japanese and wears cute little stereotypical outfits and is constantly sexualized. All I'm saying is, come on man, we can do better.

Hey look we reached the part where I rant about the dancestors. I mean what do I even have to say. Why did they even exist ??? Meenah is the only one who ended up being interesting in any meaningful way, and I guess Aranea even though I didn't feel particularly positive about her and her place in the story even after everything had happened. The rest were less interesting than the original 12, less funny than the original 12, and way more annoying and surface-level than the original 12. Seemingly on purpose. So I thought oh ok, this story hasn't let me down with this kinda stuff yet, so let's give it the benefit of the doubt. Maybe this is for some bigger reason, maybe it's essential that they're in the story for later, maybe we'll get some actual development and I'll turn around on them. I was wrong to do so. They're nothing. They are nothing characters. Even what seemed like it should've been something - Kurloz working with Gamzee - just kinda never got elaborated on and faded into the background. So then. Why. Why are they here? Why do they exist? Why did you make me spend hours meeting them? Genuinely felt like a total waste of time and you could take out that entire section from the story and lose effectively nothing. Worst part of the comic by far.

The pacing of this story can be rough. And I'm not gonna spend a lot of time on this point, because reading this archivally and knowing it was updated serially in small bursts over time, it makes total sense and I honestly excuse it for the most part. Buuuut that doesn't mean it's not noticeable sometimes that the comic will go through dry spells that can sorta be slogs to get through, and then follow with most breakneck pace you could imagine immediately after, and is always undulating between these two modes. Eh.

Those are really the only big negative things I have to say. Well, sorta. I think the rest will mostly be positive, but I... hm. I think that... ok let's talk about the ending.

First of all, Act 7. Wow. just holy shit. I've jokingly been calling Homestuck a shonen anime since like Act 4 but ???? god DAMN dude that was fucking incredible. Never would I expect actual, traditional animation from a Homestuck flash, and it was so satisfying as a final animation. That being said, I feel a bit... conflicted about the context surrounding the ending? For the record, the actual ending itself, like the last moments of the comic, I think are lovely and thematically feel super appropriate. Seeing Caliborn basically transform into Lord English is that one final time loop after a series of hundreds of time loops, finally finishing itself off. And all the while, the kids break the cycle. No more loops of destruction and rebirth and destrucion again. They won, not in the sense that they beat the big bad guy and saved the day, but in a much more poignant way; they stopped this whole fucking thing from ever happening again. I genuinely do love it. It feels appropriately existential for Homestuck, but not quite cynical. It's an ending of death and rebirth. Hopeful at its core.

I think there are a few reasons I feel a little odd about it. First is that, just tbh, I think we were introducing way too many characters way too fucking late. I mean we basically just met Davepetasprite, who is a fucking joy btw, and then BAM ending. This means that most of these later additions to the cast don't get to have much impact on the ensuing events, and even if they do, it's not as emotionally resonant as these other characters we've had plenty of time to learn about and grow to love. I would never insinuate Homestuck should be EVEN LONGER, but it does feel a bit like just throwing the fandom a few last bones to be like here! Write some fics about these peeps! But I would've wanted more actual in-universe development and narrative relevance, otherwise I just don't get a whole lot from it.

The other thing that just feels a little... idk, odd? is that I just still have no fucking clue what Vriska did to LE with the weapon, or even like, what happened to LE or Vriska. I guess maybe they're both going to die anyway because of alt-Calliope basically ripping apart this entire continuity with the black hole, but I don't know that for sure. And since Act 7 was only the single flash, I don't feel like I have much to even go on in terms of theorizing about it. The credits did like, a liiiittle more in that department I guess?? (btw those were adorable and I loved them a lot) But even then it feels like even THOSE are opening new questions as much as answering old ones. Is Vriska who Terezi is looking for? Otherwise why is Terezi the one venturing out there? Can they just come and go as they please despite the black hole? There are so many things that are completely unanswered.

I guess my main point is that the ending just felt really abrupt, cutting off a lot of plotlines that I thought were actually gonna go somewhere, and inconclusive. And maybe it's meant to be. In fact I'm almost certain it's meant to be. But the problem lies in that it does not feel inconclusive in a "up to your interpretation" way, but more in a "literally not concluded" way. Like it wasn't actually finished telling its story. I'll put it this way: the ending feels like a big awesome season finale, but not a series finale. And I know that the post-canon sequel content exists, but it seems like the fans and those works themselves distance themselves so much from the original comic that it makes it seem like that feeling wasn't the intention, so it's just really strange.

So much for not having any more negative things to say lol. Sorry. But all in all I do still largely enjoy what I got from this ending, I just hate that it feels like it was cut short or something.

Let's balance all that out by talking about some cool shit!!! I'm just gonna spitball some of my favorite things about this comic, whether in this reading section or just overall:

The art is so good!! All of Act 6 Act 6, especially the last several updates, is so immaculately rendered. I can see why this basically became *the* Homestuck style moving forward, because it's just so pleasing to look at and captures the characters in a great way. Speaking outside of specifically this section and more generally, I adore how loose Homestuck is with its art. Hussie seemed to just pick and choose whatever style would properly represent the events at hand, and it ends up being so awesome in a way that's unbound by things like staying on-model or being consistent because it's just pure expression. Plus, the constant guest art is fuckin amazing, not only because most of it is genuinely incredible in its own right, but also because Homestuck is such a wildly community-driven experience that it only feels natural to let other talented artists make their own mark on the story. It started early on and continued being a thing all the way until the end and I love love love that.

The metatextual elements of this story are so fascinating to me. Unfortunately this is one of those things I thought was gonna be expanded on a bit more by the end, but what's there is still great. I like that it goes so far beyond "fourth wall" jokes and nods to the audience. The way the characters directly interact with the narrator, the story structure, and even the website itself, is so much more interesting. Beyond being simply fun, it manages to raise so many interesting questions about the very art of fiction. What authorship means, the responsibilities of it, the follies of poor authorship, the interaction between an audience and fictional characters, the way character voice can be used to convey tone, all this and so many more things are tackled as actual in-universe concepts that can be materially tinkered with to varying results. I could genuinely write other entire posts about the way this story discusses a lot of meta concepts.

The way this comic uses its medium to its advantage is unparalleled. I just always appreciate when a story is so thoroughly connected to its medium that it would become something else if adapted, and this is certainly one of those stories. The way that the style of narrative prompt itself can convey something about what you're reading, the banners and menus being shifted, changed, obscured, and otherwise altered to add an entire new element to the experience of reading the story, the colors of the website, the way characters and items aren't necessarily bound to the frame of the panel, the way the very act of clicking on a link to go to the next page is made to be a central part of the experience, ALL OF IT... I can't call it anything other than masterful. (Ok I'm sorry to throw yet another complaint in here but I was fully expected A6A6A6 to continue this trend and basically be a huge amalgam of all these website-bending tricks we'd come to know so I was a liiiiittle disappointed when it was just a youtube video).

The character writing, often times, is phenomenal. Even from the beginning, the way character voice was so strong was impressive and fun, but as I got later into Act 6, and especially A6A6, some of the long-running character traits, flaws, and storylines finally came to a cathartic close in mostly really great ways. Some obvious highlights: Dave, in too many ways to count tbh, whether it's him grappling with destiny/heroism/things of that nature, realizing he's not straight, coming to terms with his bro's treatment of him, reconnecting to his authentic interests, so many things about Dave are so insanely amazingly done. Of course Dirk is an interesting character as well, with many questions brought up concerning mortality, control, self-loathing, and other pretty heavy stuff. Hooray for alt-Vriska getting some justice lmao. Her and alt-Terezi finally finding peace in themselves and comfort in each other in the afterlife is like almost too beautiful to not make me wanna cry. Again, like with the meta stuff, I could write entire posts about various characters and the awesome ways they're written, but I'll leave it here for now.

I think... maybe that's all I have for now. Maybe. I have a multitude of thoughts, big and small, and there was absolutely 0 chance I was gonna fit them all in here or even remember all of them. But there you have it.

Hey would you look at that. Homestuck's good!

Not perfect, as I feel I've made perfectly obvious. But good. Full of passion. Full of care. An exceptional work of art and a unique phenomenon that will likely never be replicated. I'm so, so happy to have finally experienced it. So that's me signing off on my very last liveblog post for the original comic... Damn. Thanks to the people who've been so interested in seeing me take this journey and those of you who have contributed to the discussion, it definitely made it more special for me and I appreciate it.

Thanks For Playing <3

.........

For those of you wondering, no, this liveblog as a whole isn't necessarily over. I know the post-canon content (still don't understand why it's even called that) is contentious for many, and I feel like I've seen opinions ranging from people saying it's some of the best stuff released for Homestuck, all the way to saying it literally ruined the whole thing for them because of how bad it is. So clearly, this is some controversial shit I'm about to get into. But yes, I am indeed, getting into it. I'm going to keep this liveblog going, and at the very least, I'm going to get through the Epilogues, and what is currently released of Beyond Canon. If I really find it as atrocious as some people seem to, I guess no promises that I will continue reading and posting about it after that. But I gotta know. I need to see for myself and come to my own conclusions. And I'm taking you all with me.

Cyv Reads The Homestuck Epilogues coming to a theatre near you some time soon.

[mermaidsirennikita]

Caro's June 2023 Book Wrapup

This has been an interesting reading month, probably because I've been kind of severely depressed and therefore spend a lot of time reading and less time sleeping. C'est la vie!

You know what's not depressing? How much I've been enjoying Tiffany Reisz's Original Sinners series. It's definitely erotica; it may be erotic romance as well; it's for sure one of my favorite love stories I've read in a long time. Think lots of religious imagery, lots of Stuff and Thangs, lots of Father? Father. Two "heroes" (of a sort) who somehow hit every possible button I could ever have between the both of them? Check your triggers with that series, but uh..... I'm loving it.

But that's only a little of what I've read!

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck. ARC; review to come closer to publication.

Hottest Moment: This book does feature one of my favorite things, which is to say... someone getting absolutely railed and saying something they shouldn't!!!

An Island Princess Starts A Scandal by Adriana Herrera.

The sapphic historical romance we deserve! Fun, frothy, sexy, angsty--this one has it all. Manuela and Cora are equally compelling, and Adriana milks the hell out of the older, jaded seducer/flirty Young But Ready girl. Cora kicks the book off by giving us so much vampy sex appeal, only to be completed bowled over by Manuela's eagerness and charm. And I love that like... the book doesn't skip over the challenges they face as nineteenth century lesbians, but balances it with the freedoms they're both afforded and the supportive community surrounding them. Love!

Hottest Moment: Uhhhh there's one thing in this book that I did not expect to see in this book, suffice to say.

The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy. ARC; review to come closer to publication.

Hottest Moment: The hero conversationally tells the heroine "I'm taking you from behind" and bends her over a sofa.

For My Lady's Heart by Laura Kinsale.

This is a fucking ride, and everything I want from a medieval romance. There's a knight devoted to his lady fair! There's an ice queen literal princess who's so sick of everyone's shit! There's a weird teen assassin who mAY be a castrato, who knows? The adventure is high and the emotions are strong. I will say, Kinsale lets the 1300s be the 1300s, for better or worse. There's plague. Our hero definitely alludes to doing some real bad shit. But the high stakes add to the emotionality of the story, and the tale never loses its sense of humor. I was absolutely invested in Ruck and Melanthe's wild road trip--and their love story.

Hottest Moment: Ruck pretends that Melanthe is his "leman" (mistress) so that they can share a room at an inn... But oops, there are peepholes, so I guess she has to play the part now! Darn!

Band Sinister by K.J. Charles.

Fun, light, fluffy--it's a comfort read, and well worth it. We have a rake seducing a virgin and teaching him how to fuck... We have a lovely poly situation... I don't know what's not to like. I've heard of K.J. Charles described as "Heyer but gayer" and I guess there's truth to that. If you like the frothiness of Heyer, the witticisms and wordplay, that's all here. But like. There are people of color in this book, for one thing. For another, Philip and Guy actually fuck. And there's like. Depth. All of these things make me say... this is my Heyer, I guess.

Hottest Moment: Philip teaching Guy the finer points of certain verbs.

Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale.

A wild, intense, passionate, high stakes romance novel that was perfect for me. There are elements that show its era (the noncon encounter between the leads being the most obvious) but for the most part it adds to the story rather than taking away. I'm a sucker for villain-as-hero; but here, we get a villain who knows he's awful and knows he's going to Hell... and that actually bugs him. Not because he hasn't accepted Hell, but because he believes SHE is going to Heaven. Meanwhile, our heroine is of the mind that if Heaven lacks him--she doesn't want it. And she is totally willing to learn from him. In many ways, he's her mentor; and in many ways, he's totally emotionally dependent on her. It's just... so good. So emotional, so hot, so well-defined in its arc and meaning.

Hottest Moment: Really--pick a scene. But I do have a big thing for the moment when Elayne makes Allegreto role play as a captured warrior who's been brought to service her. He's right, she's perfect.

The Devil and The Heiress by Harper St. George.

I liked the first book in this series of standalones--The Heiress Gets A Duke. But it was a little rushed for me, and while the couple was charming, you could kind of tell that the author was more excited about the heroine's innocent little sister and the predatory, fortune-hunting earl eyeing her from her across the room. You can tell she's more alive and into this roadtrip-but-it's-a-trap romance, and though there isn't anything super dark about Christian, the Earl of Leigh, or anything super groundbreaking about the sweet Violet... It's just really fun and fluffy, and he gets soooo sad when he falls into the pit of his own making, and... it's candy, and I like it.

Hottest Moment: I really liked the scene where he paced in front of a fire lustfully with his dick sticking out of his underwear I can't super explain it.

For the Love of April French by Penny Aimes.

It's difficult to find romances featuring trans heroines, and it's even more difficult to find them written by trans women. And this one is a BDSM romance at that! I think that whether or not you're trans, whether or not you're into the kink scene, there's something deeply relatable to April's problem--being the mom friend, being the den mother, feeling overlooked in favor of younger, prettier, less "complicated" models. This book is honestly pretty fluffy and sweet, and it should be. But the emotional authenticity hits hard throughout.

Hottest Moment: Personally a big fan of the scene where April gives Dennis a good ol' Brentwood hello.

The Siren by Tiffany Reisz.

Note: this is an ongoing erotica (erotic romance?) series, and though I'm not going to note every book as a rec because they must be read in order.... I'm reading it and loving it. Not for the faint of heart--and I will say that the first book reads a bit darker than the others, to me--it's going to give you a little bit of everything: polyamory, hardcore BDSM, a dominant Catholic priest, a kink king, an erotica writer/dominatrix. The core trio is totally captivating, and while I won't lie, they do some... very morally dubious shit.... I simply don't care. It's too well-written and too compelling. (Soren Stan For Life.)

Hottest Moment: There is... a lot. But in the first book, for me it was 100% Soren cornering Nora in an elevator and getting her off while reminding her that they're always going to come back to each other. Also, the "my turn" flashback with Kingsley because............

Love with a Scandalous Lord by Lorraine Heath.

This is pitched as a very normal, sedate "virginal American heroine comes to England and gets swept up by London and an older, jaded lord" book. Here's the thing: our heroine, Lydia, is a second gen heroine. Her mother was the heroine of a previous book, and fell in love with Lydia's stepfather, the illegitimate son of a duke who raised Lydia from a young age. And the hero, Rhys... is Lydia's step-uncle. That in itself is pretty intense, and you get the whole "older man accidentally seducing an innocent" thing. Then there's another classic Lorraine third act twist--and it is quite a twist. The romance is pretty normal. He hates himself and feels he can't love her, she was half a virgin when she met him; it's an angsty back and forth. Personally, that works for me. Especially when our hero was the town bicycle.

Hottest Moment: Our hero doesn't want to risk getting the heroine pregnant (I mean, he's already risked that but okay) and blows her mind in... other ways. I was a bit surprised to see an ol' "fingerbang from behind" in an early 2000s Lorraine Heath, but I was not unhappy.

M is for Marquess by Grace Callaway.

I'm not a huge fan of espionage romances, that hasn't changed--and this book does have a pretty sizable espionage plot. What makes it work here is that it's really not all that convoluted, and it doesn't compete with the romance. Our hero is into the heroine from the jump but afraid of hurting her (and really, of being rejected by her in the same way he was rejected by his wife, because he is a lil kinky). Our heroine is considered frail and desperately wants to prove to everyone she isn't. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it is enjoyable, especially if you like a "frail heroine" a la Win Hathaway (which I do).

Hottest Moment: Thea sneaks into Gabriel's room to give him something to remember her by while they're parted. It works.

[thereaderbee]

📚How was your reading month for May? And, what was your favorite read of the month?? Happy Wednesday, Bookworms … It’s offically the last day of May. Did you have a good reading month?? Did you have any favorite reads of the month?? I fee like I had a really good reading month for May. I didn’t get to all of the books that I had hoped to read, but I did get through the awesome stack above. It’s hard to pick out one favorite for the month. I LOVED my rereads of *The Kiss of Deception* and *The Iron Vow*. I also really, really enjoyed *Meet me at the Lake* and *Happy Place*. Ah, so many great books this month. You can swipe above to see my recap for the month as well. ❤️ What about you? How was your month? And did you have any favorites? And today is the last day of the May Book Challenge! Swipe above or check my profile to snag the June Challenge graphic. I’d love for you to join me for #AlltheBooksJun23! 🌸 📖 🌸 📖 🌸 📖 #AlltheBooksMay23 #MyFictionalMusings #CourtofReadingMay23 #ReadingintheWeb 🌸 📖 🌸 📖 🌸 📖 #wrapup #bookstack #bookpile #books #reading #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #currentlyreading #amreading #newbooks #yabooks #romancebooks #fantasybooks #booklover #bookcommunity #booknerd #readmorebooks #booksaremagic #bookchallenge #bookstagramchallenge #booksbooksbooks #readingtime #bibliophile #cozyreading #wednesdayvibes — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/0NS1FHm

[halflingkima]

Recent Reads

I'm not usually one for monthly wrapups or whatever – if i think a book is good, i'll recommend it; if i think i a book is bad i'll yell about it. most of my reads are middling so it's unworth it. but february was a struggle month so i figured i'd commemorate what i did indeed read cuz it feels like a read nothing and that is false. i haven't done any Official Storygraph reviews yet so instead of forgetting the entire experience, i thought i'd document it here in the meantime.

What's Your Vibe by Kat Majik: Milo is demisexual and works in a sex shop; Stevie is bisexual, agoraphobic, and a sex shop customer; the two negotiate a relationship while feeling out the edges of their own identities.

Best book I read this year so far. Cute fluffy romance with a queer friends group and without shying from the scrutiny (including self-inflicted) that demisexual & bisexual people handle on the regular. as a demi bisexual semi-agoraphobic, this spoke to me. Also, iirc, there was no sex in this, which was so deeply refreshing. the inciting incident is that the demisexual character experiences immediate physical attraction and has a bit of a crisis. were this not written by a demisexual, the focus would be on milo exploring sexual experiences, but it simply was not. as a nearly 30yo virgin, reading a book featuring a 30yo virgin was, to be frank, healing.

this is also the book i made a vaguepost about while i was reading it cuz i am lowkey afraid the author may find me through such vagueposts.

When You Get the Chance by Tom Ryan and Robin Stevenson: Cousins Mark and Talia – both gay – find themselves in Ontario on pride weekend and take a spontaneous road trip to Vancouver pride.

This was my zipbook for the month (if you're in california, ask me about libraries' zipbook programs!), and ngl, I regretted it a little bit. This was pitched to me as a cousin/bff road trip and that is absolutely not the story here. This is a family drama centering on the queer teens of the family. It was clearly a hand-off where one author wrote each pov. The plot is strange and pointless. It is absolutely not a road trip book. Nothing interesting happens, glad i got it thru the library instead of buying it myself.

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral: Teenage piano prodigy Glory has gone missing from inpatient care, where she was admitted after uncontrollably playing Chopin's Chopsticks.

this was in the free bins at work and i found it intriguing. it was published in 2013 which i think is its downfall. the format is cool and innovative. it's like a graphic novel, but using photography and mixed media (like newspaper articles & report cards). the beginning implies a sorta mystery/thriller/missing person story, but it's more of a (traditional, played-out) romeo & juliet deal. i think it could've been produced today and it would've been way more interesting and better executed, given the general popularity of and respect for graphic novels in general.

Paper Girls, Vol. 6 by Brian K. Vaughn: With the girls split across the timestream, they must survive, find their way back to each other, and return home in one piece.

I powered through this in january and i gotta say, it's nothing special. the timeline got predictably confusing, but the narrative doesn't do anything to help you with it. i was also disappointed in the ending even though it wasnt as hopeless as it couldve been. still disappointing in general. i've also seen this on "good sapphic rep" lists and i'm not sure i'd agree with that. ngl, i think i've already forgotten most of the series, let alone what happened in which volume.

A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy: Emmett wants a career as an openly gay country singer, and his first step is performing at a country superstar's amusement park; Luke was brought up hating country music, but his concerns over his mother's illness lead him to reluctantly take a job at the amusement park.

This was pleasantly better than i expected it to be. i thought it struck a perfect balance between pride & the gravitas of coming out, big dreams of stardom and small dreams of the future, young love and adult themes, and ultimately, realism & camp. there was a clear dolly parton insert character here, and yes, the characters meet her in person. but honestly, bc it's balanced with some southern-style casual homophobia, it didn't feel too outlandish for me. the fact that this book remained steadfastly YA while not shying from discussing things like terminal illness & coming out in the south really impressed me.

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce: Alanna of Trebond steals her twin brother's knighthood commission, disguising her gender, and uses her powerful healing to help her fellow knight, the prince.

i started this series (of series) in junior high and never finished it cuz it wasn't published yet lol. i've always wanted to revisit it so i finally began again and i gotta say. i had thought i'd forgotten most of what happened but no; not much happens at all in this book. the prince got sick and i was like aw hell yeah the story's getting started and then it was over. that was the climax. thank goodness it's in audio now cuz idk if i'd have the patience to reread the series otherwise.

Tea Leaves by Jacob Budenz: A collection of queer short stories leaning into the witchy, the horror, and the speculative.

I was so hoping this one would be a success, but it fell apart pretty quickly for me. Mostly, the stories just drag on far too long. There are promising premises and the writing style isn't untenable, but almost every story needed a heavy editing hand.

The Lawrence Brown Affair by Cat Sebastian: An agoraphobic inventor hires a new secretary and finds himself falling in love, not least because this secretary helps him cultivate a relationship with his young son.

I found myself moderately invested in this one. i liked the couple, but wasnt rly invested in the characters on their own outside of the relationship. this also felt a little piecemeal plotwise. single dads are in my tropebox but that doesnt rly come up until 60%ish. so far, i've largely preferred sebastian's sedgewicks series over the turner series.

Mister Invincible: Local Hero by Pascal Jousselin: Mister Invincible is the only true comic book superhero – his powers allow him to use the format of comics themselves to save the day.

This was a very cute read! It read just like a sunday comics strip, like beadle bailey or garfield, but elevated to an deliberately meta level. I picked it from a branch of my library knwon for artsy books and this one fulfilled.

Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children #3) by Seanan McGuire: Everything has returned to normal at Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children after the twins escaped; until a dissolving girl falls from the sky, demanding to see her mother Sumi – who is a recently murdered teenager.

I've seen this one talked about mostly as the most disappointing of the series - it's fine, but ppl tend to agree its the weakest. after i tricked my own damn self into disappointment with the previous one, i found this a delight! i especially loved that we visited multiple worlds.

Rizzio by Denise Mina: On the evening of March 9th, 1566, a conspiracy to assassinate David Rizzio, private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots, took place.

I likely would not have been as disappointed had i known any specifics about this piece of history going in. i expected some espionage, a focus on rizzio as a main character. instead, he was dead by page 20, and the rest of the book sprawled on, debating how mary could keep her crown. had that been the book that was pitched to me, i likely wouldve still picked it up! but i wouldve had more accurate expectations.

Bloody Jack by LA Meyer: Orphan Mary Faber finds herself aboard a ship of Queen VIctoria's British navy, masquerading as a boy – Jacky.

I've been wanting to get through this series since junior high and after rereading this one... i remember exactly why i never did. its the driest piece of historical fiction wrapped in a difficult accent. most disappointing now is how tragically heterosexual it is. i dont need every genderbend story to be explicitly about transness but it does seem weird if its never addressed; and I'd also prefer if 15yos weren't swearing marriage vows ngl. I'm gonna read the second book, but i may throw in the towel after that.

[andsalttheearthbehindyou]

january reading wrapup

a bit weak this month but it was my birthday and thats a holiday in and of itself sooooooo

the shards, bret easton ellis - this was so perfect, top to bottom. moshfegh is obsessed with ellis and i totally see where she draws her inspo from, *I* feel inspired, like this is just an incredibly gifted writer and i feel stupid for being like, hey have you heard of this guy?? but i think everyone just thinks of the american psycho film when we really should be like my god this writer is insanely gifted. im gonna read all his work albeit slowly because i imagine a lot of his novels are similar in vibe and i dont wanna get overwhelmed by it hahaahaha. but this ones gonna stick with me for sure. hbo's making this into a show, im gonna message casey bloys and say cAlL mE I wAnNa Be An aCtrEsS!!!

the vulnerables, sigrid nunez - not much to say but it gave satc vibes for some weird reason to me that i cant even explain

vladimir, julia may jonas - chose this because of natalie portmans bookclub, and i could literally envision her envisioning herself in this type of role if this were a movie, especially after her may december performance. i did enjoy this but the moralist ending really wasn't...warranted? and im being vague here for risk of spoilers but the fire seemed like a very cheap cop out? if anyones read this id like your thoughts? also from the vague synopsis id read it made it seem like the prof was an older man obsessing over a younger woman so i was really intrigued by the role reversal here and i really did want to like this.

black swans, eve babitz - cant believe i didnt read this in 2020! especially since i read slow days back then. eves writing makes me swoon

tender is the flesh, agustina bazterrica - okayy. prefacing this by saying ive been vegetarian for 4 years now and that that greatly affects my take on this, i feel like book is heavily reliant on shock value and the grotesqueness of the real world and the author knows that the reader knows this is a real practice irl and is only forcing them to care because its being done to humans now instead of animals. which is so disturbing? maybe its just me but i think its horrific and cheap to pretend like youre making a statement and pretend like youre urging people to give a fuck about a real world problem but people dont see our irl food industry as a problem, if they did there would be more people with plant based diets. i hate to sound preachy in a 'review' where im condemning the author for being fake preachy but any positive reviews of this honestly are from people that will pretend to make a change in their diet for like a week and then revert to eating meat. and then the 'twist' where it also a commentary on surrogacy at the end, i was honestly appalled. modern day surrogacy as glorified by kardashians where its just rich women who dont feel like gaining weight or are only slightly inconvenienced by pregnancy so they turn to surrogacy is obviously disgusting but the main characters wife in this is obviously infertile and i dont see anything wrong with surrogacy in that instance -- (obviously not like its done here with the cattle-woman, hello??) but oh my god this book was really not....it. for me. and i think cannibalism in media had its fun but we need to move on already its tired. this book had nothing even interesting to say on it, whatever, im annoyed, at least it was short.

sirens & muses, antonia angress - very cute i liked this a lot! it reminded me a lot of this book i read in 2022 called cleopatra and frankenstein, which i also liked a lot. this just reads really well all the way through and i loved all the characters, i was a little upset about what happened with preston but only because i really liked him and i do realize that it was interesting to show flashes of his father in him it made him more complex sighhhh! this could be a good mini series tbh i saw karina so clearly in my head as sophie thatcher ooooof

pefume: the story of a murderer, patrick süskind - kurt rec so i knew it was going to be good, wasn’t expecting it to be sooo funny tho! loved

a knight of the seven kingdoms (the tales of dunk and egg #1-3), grrm - i kept putting off reading this one because ive been scared that i’ll never have a new grrm book to read :[ and also honestly i thought this one would be boring lol but it WASNT, i LOVED it, dunk and egg r literally babies omgmggmgmgmg. loved it so much :,(

the last tale of the flower bride, roshani choksi - i think i liked this, i dont know, i dont know if me not knowng if i liked it or not means i didnt like it, i think i did, but idk lol. I did! i did like this. very tangible and idyllic, i love 'we were girls together' relationships, a jennifer and needy type of thing which will always get me. i thought the switches in pov were fun. someone described this as gothic which is why i picked it up and i...wouldnt call it gothic, but it was good.

i guess this month wasnt as weak as i thought but whenever i dont hit double digits im like ugh. slump.

[lizziethereader]

May 2023 wrapup

May was so busy at work but I'm glad that I still got around to reading so many good books!

favorites of the month: Painted Devils by Margaret Owen, Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

nonfiction of the month (1): Making a point by David Crystal

classics (1): Im Westen nichts Neues by Erich Maria Remarque

poetry (1): In Orbit by Glyn Edwards

graphic novel (1): Check, Please! Book 1 by Ngozi Ukazu

[deborahocarroll]

Summer Reading Wrapup (2023)

Long time no blog! But I want to start sharing about books again, so I thought it’d be fun to take a look back at the books I’ve been reading this summer! (Summer here defined as May through August. XD) In give-or-take chronological order, here we go! Saber’s Pride (C.M. Banschbach) This one I technically read earlier in the year since I got to copyedit it (aahh!), but it released in the…

[embarkbehavioralhealth]

Back-to-School Guide: Supporting Students’ Mental Health

To help parents best support adolescents and teens as they prepare for the new school year, we’ve created a back-to-school guide featuring valuable insights and a mental health checklist. Keep reading to explore common mental health struggles facing students and to learn how to effectively support your child’s emotional needs now and throughout the academic year. Table of contents- Student Mental Health Challenges- Anxiety - Social anxiety - Depression - Stress - School refusal - Fear of school - Mental Health Checklist- √1. Communicate - √2. Help them prioritize sleep - √3. Build a support network - √4. Encourage practicing gratitude - √5. Establish a routine - Provide Mental Health Days - Back-to-School Guide: Wrapup Student Mental Health Challenges Student mental health challenges such as anxiety, social anxiety, depression, stress, school refusal, and fear of school can be significant concerns for parents and students alike during the back-to-school season. As adolescents and teens prepare to return to the academic setting, it’s essential for parents like you to be aware of these potential difficulties. Understanding and addressing the impact of the challenges listed in this back-to-school guide and using the mental health checklist will enable you to help your child navigate their transition back to the classroom.  Anxiety For many adolescents and teens, going to school is a normal part of their routine. But for some, the very idea triggers — or intensifies — stress and anxiety. This issue is noteworthy as part of our back-to-school guide considering anxiety is a significant issue for youths. For example, it was the most common mental health concern for children ages 3-17 from 2018 to 2019, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health.    If your adolescent or teen has anxiety, they could end up not going to class once school starts, which can create a harmful cycle. For example, a student with performance anxiety who skips classes can fall further behind academically. Their anxiety can also show up as physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomachaches, and fatigue.  https://youtu.be/C-RienaJb50 Social anxiety Social anxiety, also called social anxiety disorder, involves intense and continued fears of being watched or judged by others or of becoming a failure in other people’s eyes. To get a diagnosis, an adolescent or teen typically must experience symptoms for at least six months. Situations that often cause symptoms include social situations, especially those involving new people, or performance situations, including school or testing environments. A child with social anxiety may therefore be worried about returning to school and interacting with people once back in class.     Depression While school offers many benefits to adolescents and teens, such as connecting with peers, overscheduling and academic pressure can be a significant source of stress, contributing to mental health issues including depression. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey of U.S. teens ages 13-17, academics tops the list of pressures teens face, with 61% saying they feel a lot of pressure to get good grades.  As part of this back-to-school guide, it’s important to note that depression in teens can look a bit different than it does in adults. Symptoms can include:   - Mood swings.    - Irritability.  - Angry outbursts.    - Substance use. - Isolation.    - Social withdrawal.    - Rebelliousness.   Stress School stress can be a significant challenge for adolescents and teens. Academic performance can take a mental, emotional, and physical toll on their minds and bodies.    It’s important to note that school stress isn’t always a problem, as stress itself is not always a problem. Good stress, which feels manageable, builds resilience and is necessary for growth. The issue is unhealthy stress, which feels unmanageable and can have a negative impact. For example, it could lead to issues including social withdrawal and isolation, low self-esteem, insecurity, and substance use.  School refusal If adolescents or teens have refused to go to class in the past or are already indicating they don’t want to go once classes resume, this time of year can be stressful. When dealing with school refusal, it can be tempting to focus on judging the reasons as legitimate or fake. But if a youth is avoiding the school environment, it could mean there’s a significant underlying issue. Common underlying issues include learning problems, bullying, family stress or conflict, mental health disorders, and medical problems.  Fear of school The fear of school, also called school phobia, is when the thought of going to school — including interacting with classmates or teachers, doing homework, or engaging in sports on campus — feels far too difficult or overwhelming to your adolescent or teenager. They might worry about heading to class and then, once they get there, procrastinate on homework or avoid studying for a test. Fear of school is therefore a key topic in this back-to-school guide. Reasons for school phobia include fear of teachers, separation anxiety, school bullying, low self-esteem, and a history of mental health issues.  Mental Health Checklist Parent and teen review mental health checklist before teen goes back to school. A mental health checklist can be a valuable tool for parents whose adolescents and teens are grappling with mental health challenges when heading back to school. It’s essential to prioritize mental well-being to ensure a smooth and successful transition. As part of our back-to-school guide, this mental health checklist provides several tips on how to support your child during this critical time. By following this guidance, you can monitor your adolescent or teen’s emotional well-being and proactively address any concerns.   √1. Communicate As the school year approaches, it’s important to keep the lines of communication open so you can best understand how your child is feeling and to build your emotional connection with them. When starting a conversation, keep in mind that if you’re asking questions, it could feel like an interrogation to your adolescent or teen. To ensure they’ll be more open to responding honestly and get them to start talking, try “I noticed” statements. For example, you could say, “I noticed you seem nervous about going back to school.”   As part of your communication process, practice active listening. Avoid multitasking to give your full attention to your adolescent or teen, face them with welcoming body language, and make eye contact in a relaxed, uncritical manner. Giving your undivided attention will help you listen attentively so you can paraphrase what’s said and withhold judgment and advice.  √2. Help them prioritize sleep According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children ages 6-12 should get nine to 12 hours of sleep per night, while teens 13-18 should get eight to 10 hours. So, it’s important your adolescent or teen prioritizes getting good sleep as they head back to school. However, if your child is sleeping too much, that can affect their mental and physical well-being. Early start times at school can add to this issue, as an adolescent or teenager who’s always tired can have difficulty getting up for and functioning well in class.   To promote healthy sleep hygiene and habits, you can help your child develop a bedtime routine; encourage reduced caffeine use; limit social media and technology use; and encourage exercise, yoga, and mindfulness.  √3. Build a support network Many adolescents, teenagers, and their families are carrying the burden of mental health issues alone. That’s because building a mental health support network can be difficult, as it can be tough to connect with and trust others. But that network can provide your child with essential support as they head back to class — and during the school year.   The people in your child’s support network should be active listeners who take your adolescent or teen’s well-being seriously. They should be people your family receives love and support from. You can find them in churches, at schools, on sports teams, or at other group activities.  √4. Encourage practicing gratitude Practicing gratitude can be a powerful tool for adolescents and teens facing mental health challenges during the back-to-school season, as it can help shift their focus beyond the struggles or frustrations of life. By expressing appreciation for “the little things,” such as supportive friends or even the opportunity to learn, they can cultivate a more positive mindset and build their resilience. This allows them to navigate challenges with a more optimistic perspective. Consider encouraging your adolescent or teen to keep a gratitude journal or to do something as simple as creating a note on their phone that lists positive aspects about school so they can look at them on a regular basis.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9j0jb4LZ8I √5. Establish a routine Establishing a routine can greatly benefit adolescents and teens as they transition back to class, making it an important part of the mental health checklist in this back-to-school guide. Work with your child to create a structured schedule. When they implement it, they can experience several advantages:  - A sense of stability: A routine provides a sense of stability and predictability, which can help reduce anxiety and stress.  - Enhanced time management: Following a routine helps students effectively manage their time, allowing for a better balance between academics, extracurricular activities, and personal commitments.  - Improved self-care: Incorporating self-care activities into the routine, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, and time for hobbies, can contribute to better mental health and overall well-being.  - Better focus and productivity: A structured routine helps adolescents and teens stay organized, prioritize tasks, and maintain focus, enhancing productivity and reducing feelings of overwhelm. Provide Mental Health Days After your child is back at school, you may find they need an occasional “rest” day — a break from the stress and anxiety of school, peers, and social performance. This allows their nervous system a chance to reset and calm down. These mental health days should be structured to include proactive activities that provide rejuvenation and connection, such as going for a walk or spending one-on-one time with a parent. Be in tune with your adolescent or teen’s needs to determine when and how often a rest day is necessary.   Back-to-School Guide: Wrapup As you prepare for the upcoming school year, remember the importance of prioritizing your adolescent or teen’s mental well-being. By using the mental health checklist in this back-to-school guide, you can create a supportive and nurturing environment that will help ensure a positive start to school and set the tone for a fulfilling academic journey. Embark is the most trusted name in teen and young adult mental health treatment. We’re driven to find the help your family needs. If you’re looking for support, contact us today.  Read the full article