#megs reads banned books

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Two things we know about Meghan: she never misses a chance to play the victim and she practically wrote Spare. There must be a reason these parts of the book were so vague. by u/so_fkn_dn

Two things we know about Meghan: she never misses a chance to play the victim, and she practically wrote Spare. There must be a reason these parts of the book were so vague. I haven't read Spare first hand, but I recall these two excerpts both including accusations/insults against Meghan but stopping short of saying exactly what they were. My guess is there was truth in those insults, and she purposely kept them hidden to cover her ass while maintaining her victimhood.1. The argument that got Harry to seek therapy"Maybe the wine went to my head. Maybe the weeks of battling the press had worn me down. For some reason, when the conversation took an unexpected turn, I became touchy. Then angry. Disproportionately, sloppily angry. Meg said something I took the wrong way. It was partly a cultural difference, partly a language barrier, but I was also just over-sensitive that night. I thought: Why's she having a go at me? I snapped at her, spoke to her harshly—cruelly. As the words left my mouth, I could feel everything in the room come to a stop [...] She was calm, but said in a quiet, level tone that she would never stand for being spoken to like that. I nodded. She wanted to know where it came from. 'I don't know.' 'Where did you ever hear a man speak like that to a woman? Did you overhear adults speak that way when you were growing up?' I cleared my throat, looked away, 'Yes.'"My take: Since Harry mentioned the press wearing him down, and Meghan asking where he heard a man speaking like that to a woman, I'm guessing something about her past (or a rumour about it) bothered him. Whatever it is, either there's some truth to it, or Harry's not such a feminist ally after all.2. Charles banning Meghan from the Queen's deathbed"Then came another call from Pa. He said I was welcome at Balmoral, but he didn't want…her. He started to lay out his reason, which was nonsensical, and disrespectful, and I wasn't having it. 'Don’t ever speak about my wife that way.' He stammered, apologetic, saying he simply didn't want a lot of people around. No other wives were coming, Kate wasn't coming, he said, therefore Meg shouldn't. 'Then that's all you needed to say.'"My take: Charles accused Meghan of wearing a mic, or something equally shady.For a book that detailed decades-old conversations verbatim, I'd say these omissions are very telling. post link: https://ift.tt/AQ6OjpB author: so_fkn_dn submitted: August 24, 2024 at 10:11AM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[terrainofheartfelt]

liz, I'd like some adorable dair hcs, please and thank you 💛

it would be my pleasure, my dear 💛💛💛

dan proposes with an empty box, because he knows that blair is a control freak and wearing jewelry forever that she didn't pick herself freaks her out. people who don't know them very well will side-eye the story but anyone who actually knows these two weirdos thinks it's really sweet

they spend every Sunday morning having coffee and croissants in bed and doing the Sunday crossword together. or, they try to beat each other to answering each clue

slightly related, they are banned from van der humphrey scrabble games, because they get too competitive and too horny to play with others

in a comedy of errors, Nate finds out Blair's pregnant before Dan does (he's out of town on a book tour, Blair finds out while he away and is wigging) and then Nate has to pretend that Everything Is Cool even though he's a literal human golden retriever and is just so happy for them. he keeps it a secret though. when they tell the rest of the gang he's like "FIRST! I knew first! I knew the entire time!"

in any universe I hold in my head, they live in Paris for at least one year, possibly more.

once in an interview, Dan discloses that Rosemary's Baby is his and his wife's "Valentine's Movie" and the internet is like "????????"

in his late 20s, Dan starts getting ocular migraines while trying to read and write and brushes them off, so Blair is the one who kicks his ass all the way to the optometrist. He's fine, he just needs glasses. (blair thinks they're really, really hot)

on their first anniverasry (paper) they each give the other their preserved Nenette ticket stub, because they tried to throw it away, but just couldn't. saps. Blair frames hers and Dan hangs it in his home office. Dan puts his in a custom shadow box that sits on Blair's desk at work.

Once, in a dedication or social media caption, Dan calls her “The Ingrid to my Humphrey, the Waldorf to my Statler, the Harry to my Sally.” the biggest issue she takes with that is "I am Meg Ryan. Always."

speaking of social media, every time Dan and Blair post photos of themselves or sappy things of each other, Jenny leaves the same comment: gross.

(obviously at this point they're all cool with each other but Jenny is a little sister and also loves a bit)

sometimes Blair will like and/or quote tweet thirst tweets about Dan because she loves to cause problems.

Red wine makes Blair Bonkers Horny and far enough along into their relationship Dan learns to just roll with it and prepare himself mentally.

I discussed this at length before in dms with nads @mysteriesofloves which is that Blair has a system of pet names for Dan. *keira knightley as elizabeth bennet darcy voice* kitten for every day, my love for Sundays, and bunny, but only on very special occasions

and finally, to bring it back to the wedding rings, both are engraved. Blair chooses for Dan's band: bread, light, & shadow (based off of Neruda) and Dan chooses for Blair's: still days & hurricanes (based of von Radics)

[artsy-hobbitses]

What was Megs/Morgan relationship with Omar/Op parents like? Did he meet them?

He did not unfortunately! And it’s intentional on Mirza/Uzma’s end, because they know their son is seeing a kid from the other side of the fence in secret, and they know that’s really sort of frowned upon esp once they find out that OP’s loaned Megs his favorite book which is banned for Megs’ class. It’s one thing for kids to come across each other innocently, but them talking to this kid will definitely draw more attention to the little meetings, so they keep out of it.

Uzma does, however, teach/show OP how she used to disguise banned reports/literature by changing the covers and insets and making them look as innocuous as possible so he gets the hint and does the same so they won’t be caught.

Mirza sends him off with extra snacks when he comes back from school and goes to read/chill out in the apartment playground, growing boy needs more food right? (OP gets the hint)

Mirza and Uzma have seen Megs before, Megs has never seen them in person until he reached adulthood, and even then only Mirza—-Uzma died before they could ever meet (which is a shame because she and he would have gotten on like a house in fire)

[liliannasprereadmediathek]

[image description] Two images next to each other. On the left the characters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy being read to by their mother Marmie in a Christmas setting. On the right, Jo, Beth, Meg and Amy gathered around their mother Marmie all looking into different directions.

One question listeners: are you a Jo, Amy, Beth, or Meg? This episode, we’re discussing characters in the 1994 and 2019 versions of Little Women, and diving deep into subtextual readings and fan interpretations.

We’ll discuss disability, autistic, and queer readings, and try to answer our question: is Little Women a ‘story for every generation’, and why is it so popular?

To listen, just head to the link in our bio, or find us wherever you find podcasts 🎧 

[headphones emoji]

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/Dcu52sHYLzb

🍂🍁📚🎄🍃🌳❄️☃️📜✍️🪶

[falling autumn leaves emoji; leaf emoji; stack of books emoji; Christmas tree emoji; falling green leaves emoji; tree emoji; snowflake emoji; snowman emoji; scroll emoji; handwriting emoji; feather emoji]

📝 Shownotes: 📝

📼 Preread text (Rowan Ellis, https://youtu.be/SMFll3aIbmo)

Primary Sources:

📚 “Little Women” (1868, 1869) by Louisa May Alcott

🎞️ “Little Women” (1933) (dir. George Cukor, 📜 Sarah Y. Mason and Victor Heerman)

🎞️ “Little Women” (1949) (dir. Mervyn LeRoy, 📜 Andrew Solt, Sarah Y. Mason, Victor Heerman)

🎞️ “Little Women” (1994) (dir. Gillian Armstrong, 📜 Robin Swicord)

🎞️ “Little Women” (2019) (dir. + 📜 Greta Gerwig) (https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/little-women-by-greta-gerwig.pdf)

📺 “Little Women” (2017) (dir. Vanessa Caswill,  📜 Heidi Thomas) (Masterpiece: PBS)

Secondary Sources:

📰 “Life Magazine: Little Women: A Story for Every Generation” (Meredith Corp., 2020)

📜 ‘Everything depend[s] on the fashion of narration’: Women Writing Women Writers in Short Stories of the Fin-de-Siècle (Bryony Randall) 📜 “The New ‘Little Women’ Makes Space For Jo’s Queerness” (Shannon Keating) (https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/shannonkeating/little-women-greta-gerwig-saoirse-ronan-jo-march-queer) 📜 “The New Little Women Basically Proves Jo March is Queer” (Michelle Hyun Kim) (https://www.them.us/story/little-women-greta-gerwig-jo-march-queer) 📜 Amatonormativity (https://medium.com/the-science-scholar/opinion-amatonormativity-the-damaging-pedestal-of-romantic-love-d70cc0585b0f) 📜 “The Real Reason Hairspray Was Banned On The Little Women Set” (Avery Stone) (https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/12/9114384/little-women-movie-hair-makeup-interview) 📼 “Little Women: Laurie & Jo” (https://youtu.be/osdVRusNGgg) 🎞️ “Divergent” (2014) (dir. Neil Burger, 📜 Evan Daugherty, Vanessa Taylor) 📼 “Greta Gerwig, Representation, and the Universal Girl” (https://youtu.be/0p-cBSqIDbQ) 📼 “Why Neurodivergent People Relate to Jo March” (https://youtu.be/x-j5XK1wpyo)

📱Social Media Handles📱:

IG:     https://www.instagram.com/liliannapod/ Twitter:     https://twitter.com/liliannapod Tumblr:    https://www.tumblr.com/blog/liliannasprereadmediathek

🎹 Intro Music 🎹: "Wall" by Jahzaar, licenced under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)  

🎹 Outro Music 🎹: “Waterbeat” by DJ Lengua, licenced under Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

🎹 Transition Music 🎹:

“Pencil” by zakkolar - Pixabay “Fireplace Fire Crackling - Loop” by SoundsForYou - Pixabay “Sleigh Bells fast” by jcdecha - Pixabay “Tambourine christmas sound effect 25” by beetpro - Pixabay “Footsteps in the snow, шаги в парке,” by SSPsurvival - Pixabay

#LittleWomen #LouisaMayAlcott #JoMarch #AmyMarch #BethMarch #MegMarch #Laurie #GretaGerwig #SaoirseRonan #EmmaWatson #FlorencePugh #ElizaScanlen #LauraDern #TimothéeChalamet #BobOdenkirk #MerylStreep #GillianArmstrong #SusanSarandon #WinonaRyder #KirstenDunst #ClaireDanes #ChristianBale #AdaptationTheory #MoviePodcast #podcast #queer #FeministPodcast #QueerPodcast #LiliAnnasPrereadMediathek #LiliAnnaPod #trans #ace #DisabledRepresentation #DisabledRep #disability #disabled

[tolerateit]

MEGGGGGGG! Hi! I am back with "Kate tells Meg what she is reading because she is bored and it is fun" time! I was away on vacation all last week and somehow only read one book. I had convinced myself that I would read more, and brought three books + my kindle, and then smacked myself when I didn't because I COULD HAVE PICKED UP MORE BOOKS WHILE I WAS AWAY. Tsk, let's hope I learn from this mistake this time, it's been a while since I've flown with the intent to go shopping and adventuring and not just visiting family while staying put.

BUT! Before that I finished the Audiobook of Good Omens with the show as the voice cast and I LOVED IT, and now desperately want to rewatch the show and reread the book in some sick cycle of never ending insanity. I highly recommend both !

Then, the book I read was Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas, and holy shit, this book is so atmospheric. I liked all the characters, and the romance was a little slow burny which I adored. Sometimes, the main couples interacts drove me a little crazy, but it was always resolved and they seem to trust each other so much that I just was kinda swoony no matter what. It was the perfect end of summer with still hot day but cool nights read, with a good mix of spooky in there too. It was really a solid 4-4.5 stars for me.

Now, I am reading the Missing of Clairedelune by Christelle Dabos and I hope I have the motivation to finish the Mirror Visitor series, because these books just capture my attention so much. The world building is incredible, and yeah, it can be clunky sometimes, but I feel like it works really well with our main protagionst and narrator. Also, a slow burn over a series??? sign me the FUCK UP. While working, I am listening to the Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer and I like it so far, it's interesting. I like the concept, and Clover is a good narrator, but literally only like 10% into it, so we will see how it goes. I feel good!

anywaysssss I miss you, and I hope you are well :D I am back on my book buying ban for the rest of the year, so yell at me if I mention buying another book from a bookstore!!

THIS IS SUCH A TREAT OMG also also I love how we both enjoyed some Neil gaiman work recently!! I reread the ocean at the end of the lane and I'm still blown away by how good it was. Of course Elena knows has been another top read this month and im looking forward to more cozy/spooky fall themed books in October!!! (also set a book buying limit for the next few months!! No more than 8 books 😉)

[p1anetm3g]

01/18/25

hey.

i've decided to live life like it's 2015 because why the hell not.

in 2015, i was 17, and i didn't really care about what anyone thought of me. except for the fact that i 100% did i just convinced myself i didn't. HOWEVER that didn't stop me from posting wild shit on instagram + tumblr.

i'm taking a page out of my own book and unapologetically feeling the way i feel and doing the things i like.

***also i'm about to regress back to dw mode, so someone save me when i get to doomsday. (:

things i'd like to do this year - go back to boxing class (2023 meghan is calling) - run / start training for a half marathon (i ran one in 2014, i can do it again) - pick up reading again (john green, here i come <3) - keep hanging pictures on my apartment walls so it feels like home - watch less tiktok (checK! bc it got banned today lol) - end 2025 feeling better that i did when it started (mentally, emotionally, physically, etc. -- at least one !) - do i start welcome to nightvale ??? ily a milli <3 xoxo, meg _________ 1/18/25 @ 11:29p

[megsbooklr]

End of the year book-reading ask game

(Part 5)

22. What are some books you discovered this year that you added to your tbr?

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

The West Passage by Jared Pechacek

The Lost Story my Meg Shaffer

Where the Wild Ladies Are by Aoko Matsuda

23. What new releases did you read this year?

The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton

Tales of the Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan

English translations of Onmyoji and Tengu Eyes, 7th Time Loop, The Case Files of Jeweler Richard, Thousand Autumns, Stars of Chaos, Guardian, Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish

24. What new releases are you looking forward to next year?

English translations of Chinese and Japanese novels: 7th Time Loop, The Case Files of Jeweler Richard, Stars of Chaos, Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish, Ballad of Sword and Wine, Peerless, Coins of Destiny, The Defectives, Devil Venerable Also Wants To Know, Silent Reading, Love Between Fairy and Devil

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

Katabasis by R. F. Kuang

25. If you had to give a TEDTalk on a book you read this year, for better or worse, which would it be?

The Imperial Uncle - this book messed with my head so much that I'd love to introduce it to everybody else ;D

26. What are your reading goals for next year?

Just read whatever I like. FROM MY OWN LIBRARY

(Soft-ish) Book Buying Ban - continue buying (and reading) the Japanese light novels from the series I've already started; continue buying the danmei series I've started plus The Defectives, Silent Reading and Devil Venerable Also Wants To Know; buy at most 10 other books (choose wisely...). :P

[commentator-ihy]

Update on the new version: I saw it in the bookstore a couple weeks ago and wanted to know how different it is from the old tokyopop version, so I snapped a few pictures of a couple pages to compare when I got back home.

I of course forgot for a while until going through my photos but there's some interesting stuff to see from the few comparisons I made

Overall summary: it looks like it has been retranslated, the sound effects are either "subtitled" or completely redrawn in English where the old one did not give any translation for sfx, and the layout/cut of the pages (sorry I don't know the proper terms here) seems to be better. I'll probably pick it up to put on the shelf next to my old copy.

Regarding retranslation I don't actually know how publishing really works but I'm going to assume Titan comics only got the rights to reproduce and translate the original Japanese version and not the scripts that were made by Tokyopop (or they just decided to refresh it anyway)

Here's a cover comparison, old version of the left, new on the right:

The mark on Meg's boob in the old one is some dirt or something so don't mind it for the comparison. The Japanese title is completely removed and the English version is made larger. It's hard to see because of the glare, but the "volume 1" indicator is now in a big green circle at the top, which you can actually see was brought back from the Japanese version shown in the original post. Obviously the signature Tokyopop branding on the side is not there any more either. The character art is zoomed in a bit more and the larger English title covers it up more on the bottom, but the removal of the Tokyopop ban does uncover some of it horizontally.

I took three pictures of the inside, just the first couple pages and the first page I found that had a lot of sfx on it. The first page with the contents visible:

You can see the new version redrawing the sfx in English. The shading may have been brightened up a bit, but that could also just be from my camera and lighting situation.

A couple pages in from there:

More redrawn sfx here except for the door handle "ka-cha" which is subtitled. The dialog and note are also different translations. And I'll point out in my old version that the text in that last thought bubble is off center, and you can kind of tell that the bubble itself is more cut off than the new version. This is what I meant by the layout/cut of the pages earlier, and it will be even more obvious in the next set.

For the last picture I took I found a spread that was entirely sfx in an action sequence:

The sfx are entirely subtitled rather than redrawn. And here on the sides it is quite obvious how the pages are more cut off in the old version; a man's entire shoulder is gone along with almost all of the last character of the sfx on the right, and on the left half the sfx is cut off and you can no longer see the end of Jo's coat.

Final verdict, I think it's worth getting the new one even if you have the old one based on the better cropping alone. Redrawing sfx is not a problem for me, especially when they don't cover any more than the original ones did, and subbed sfx is nice for those who can't read Japanese either at all or aren't familiar enough with it to read everything in the original language (people buy the book in English for a reason). I'll probably be picking it up either when it's all out or when I see it next time I visit the bookstore (Amazon says volume 2 is scheduled for release this month, December 2024, and volume 3 in March 2025)

New material for my gay shelf! It occured to me that there's a real possibility of unappreciated gems like this that didnt sell well becoming impossible to find, so I snatched them all while I could.

Bust Angel was one of the first yuri manga I ever read, and the anime is one of my favorites

[megs-readstoomuch]

Banned Book Week - Sept. 27th to Oct. 3rd!

[intelligentchristianlady]

Censorship is odious--and counterproductive.

[girljeremystrong]

*books with great love stories and plots that don’t just revolve around them.

SORROW AND BLISS by Meg Mason

Martha’s marriage is falling apart, because there’s something wrong with her but nobody has been able to tell her what. We go back in time to relive all the ups and downs of Martha and Patrick’s relationship to find out if they can make it out together. Beautiful story about mental health and love and family.

TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin

Sadie and Sam love each other but are never lovers and we follow their journey for 30 years, from Boston to California as they develop together a video game and a complicated personal relationship. Very fun book about gaming and being best friends who are often in love with each other and often very mad at each other.

UNLIKELY ANIMALS by Annie Hartnett

Emma flies home from California to New Hampshire as a Med school dropout when her dad is diagnosed with a brain disease. At home her parents are in a fight, her brother is just out of rehab and her childhood best friend is missing. She scrambles to find her feet and pull everyone together. This is such a CUTE, heart lifting book with great characters and GHOSTS.

NEVER LET ME GO by Kazuo Ishiguro

Kathy, Tommy and Ruth are three best friend who have grown up in an English boarding school. But throughout their childhood many things felt wrong and as they grow and leave school they realize just how many secrets were kept from them. It’s a love story! It’s a mystery! It’s a critique of human arrogance!

NO LAND TO LIGHT ON by Yara Zghaeib

Hadi and Sama are a Syrian couple living in the USA. As they are waiting for the birth of their son, Hadi leaves to visit his family and then their lives are uprooted by a travel ban. Sama and Hadi are forced apart and as the physical and emotional distance between them grows, they try to find their way back to each other. This is a pretty sad one, I can’t lie, but such a beautiful story.

YOUNG MUNGO by Douglas Stuart

Mungo meets James in their housing estate in Glasgow. They are young and lonely, they become friends and they fall in love. Unfortunately Mungo is a Protestant and James is a Catholic, and where they’re from these things matter, especially to Mungo’s brother, a violent gang leader. This is not a very happy book either but it is THE best story about being young and falling in love. PLEASE READ THIS. Then come talk to me about it.

REAL LIFE by Brandon Taylor

Wallace is working toward a degree in the Midwest. But he’s Black and he’s queer and he feels distance between himself and his colleagues. We follow him through a summer weekend he spends with his college friends, finding out truths about them and about himself. I will never tire of recommending this book. It’s just so interesting and well written. And lovely words about the start of a relationship.

THE NIGHT CIRCUS by Erin Morgenstern

There is a circus that arrives without warning and is only open at night. Behind the scenes two magicians, Celia and Marco, are involved in a duel they’ve been training for since childhood. But despite all that, they fall in love. This is a fantasy novel that will for sure appeal to any fans of the genre. It’s fun and the aesthetics are sublime.

OPEN WATER by Caleb Azumah Nelson

Two young people meet at a pub in South East London. Both are Black British, both won scholarships to private schools where they struggled to belong, both are now artists - he a photographer, she a dancer - trying to make their mark in a city that by turns celebrates and rejects them. Tentatively, tenderly, they fall in love. So beautiful, so well written. Reads like falling in love feels like. LOVE IT.

SWIMMING IN THE DARK by Tomasz Jedrowski

Set in early 1980s Poland against the violent decline of communism, a tender and passionate story of first love between two young men who eventually find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide. It’s beautiful and poetic and quite sad. Stunning characters, stunning descriptions.

LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB by Malinda Lo

Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can’t remember exactly when the question took root, but the answer was in full bloom the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. This is so SWEET. Lily is such a great character and her story fills your heart with pain and glee and pride. I love this book and this wonderful story.

EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WILL SOMEDAY BE DEAD by Emily R. Austin

Gilda, a twenty-something lesbian, cannot stop ruminating about death. Desperate for relief from her panicky mind and alienated from her repressive family, she responds to a flyer for free therapy at a local Catholic church, and finds herself  abruptly hired as a receptionist. Through all of this she finds a girlfriend. And it’s sweet and slow and lovely.

THE PROPHETS by Robert Jones Jr.

A novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation. Isaiah was Samuel’s and Samuel was Isaiah’s. That was the way it was since the beginning, and the way it was to be until the end. Goes without saying, this is a sad story that will make you cry and will make you angry. But it is so so beautiful.

YOLK by Mary H.K.Choi

Jayne and June are two sisters living in New York after growing up in Texas. Jayne is struggling through fashion school, while her sister has a hot shot job in finance and a big apartment. They are sort-of estranged until June is diagnosed with cancer. The first love story in this book is between the sisters, but there is a budding romance for Jayne that is so sweet. This is a sweet book. I love it.

EARLY MORNING RISER by Katherine Heiny

Jane falls in love with Duncan easily. He is charming, good-natured, and handsome but unfortunately, he has also slept with nearly every woman in Boyne City, Michigan. A wise, bighearted, boundlessly joyful novel of love, disaster, and unconventional family. This feels like Gilmore Girls but better.

A TIP FOR THE HANGMAN by Allison Epstein

Christopher Marlowe, a brilliant aspiring playwright, is pulled into the duplicitous world of international espionage on behalf of Queen Elizabeth I. I also will never tire of recommending this novel about stupid Kit Marlowe becoming a spy while crushing hard on his best friend. It’s just so fun and so good.

THE BAD MUSLIM DISCOUNT by Syed M. Masood

It is 1995, and Anvar Faris is a restless, rebellious Pakistani boy whose family moves to start life over in California. At the same time, Safwa, a young girl suffocating in war-torn Baghdad with her grief-stricken, conservative father will find a very different and far more dangerous path to America. The fates of two remarkably different people intertwine and set off a series of events. It’s very good, the characters are great and the relationship is very realistic.

THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY by Gabrielle Zevin

A. J. Fikry is cynical but lovable. His wife has died and his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island. But there’s Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island. Such a lovely book. Lovely and heatwarming with amazing characters and unpredictable plot.

WRITERS & LOVERS by Lily King

Blindsided by her mother's sudden death, and wrecked by a recent love affair, Casey Peabody has arrived in Massachusetts in the summer of 1997 without a plan. She waits tables in Harvard Square and rents a tiny, moldy room at the side of a garage where she works on the novel she's been writing for six years. When she falls for two very different men at the same time, her world fractures even more. Again this is just a lovely book. About love and grief and being lost.

AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE by Tayari Jones

Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. BEAUTIFUL. Just masterful work. Will make you cry like a baby.

THE SONG OF ACHILLES by Madeline Miller

Achilles, "the best of all the Greeks," son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong and beautiful. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods' wrath. I mean I like this. It’s poetic and romantic and it’s a classic story. Had to make the list...

TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett

Set during the pandemic when the main character and her three daughters are quarantining in their farm. The daughters get their mum to tell them the story of how she fell for and dated a famous actor while putting on a play in her 20s. VERY SWEET AND SPECIAL and also ann patchett can do no wrong!!!!

SIRENS & MUSES by Antonia Angress

The story of two very different girls who meet in art school. Lots going on in this book but it's all very poetic and interesting and the two main characters go through a lot but also like each other a lot.

IN MEMORIAM by Alice Winn

About two boys who meet in boarding school and then join war world I. It is insanely sad and it's a book about the war and about young people meeting terrible fates, but very romantic and they keep sending letters that are heartbreaking and they really love each other.

THE LATE AMERICANS by Brandon Taylor

About a group of friends and acquaintances who are all young and fucked up and all in different weird relationships but it's very interesting and Brandon Taylor also can do no wrong!!!!

TIN MAN by Sarah Winman

About two boys who meet in their youth and fall in love but then suddenly there's a time jump and it's been years and one of them is married to somebody else and the other one is nowhere to be found. Sad but also very special and definitely a book that is all about love.

LESS by Andrew Sean Greer

Pulitzer prize winning book about a novelist who receives an invitation to his ex boyfriend's wedding and is heartbroken so, suddenly, he finds himself coping by going on a world tour. It's funny and sweet and has a happy ending.

[megs-readstoomuch]

My favorite week of the year!

Banned Books Week!

It’s time for every librarian’s favorite time of year - Banned Books Week.

My display is up.

My lists are made.

And my desire to preserve intellectual freedom is ready and rarin’! 

Every day for the next seven days, I’m gonna be gracing you with a book I love that has been banned or challenged in the past. I’m also gonna flood this feed with all kinds of info and data about banned books, including ways for you guys to get involved and stay informed!

What are your favorite books that have been challenged or banned? I would love to know, so drop me an ask so we can talk about them like giant nerds!

Happy reading!

[just-an-enby-lemon]

🌟 10 Characthers, 10 Fandons, 10 Tags 🌟

I was tagged by @ven10 (thank you soo much for the tag it was rly fun) and spended a long time questioning if I should do the challenge a second time, because tecnically I had already done. But I found really fun the first time, so I decided let's go.

But beforehand I stabelished ONE rule:

No repeat characthers, even if it is different iterations of the charachter (yes this rule exists so I won't reuse Ed, sue me).

Just like the first time the characthers and fandons are in non particular order.

1. Carter Kane - The Kane Chronicles

I though a lot if I would bar all Riordanverse characthers from this second play or not, but I just coudn't. I'm already banning Ed. I can't do both. So only MCAGA is baned.

Now there are a lot of Riordaverse characthers I though about using: Percy, Thalia, Meg, Apolo, Leo, ma boi Frank but in the end I choose Carter. He is baby who deserves more atention from the fandom (the whole Kane's Chronicles deserve it).

The first time I read the books I will admit child me was very neutral towards Carter, I vastly pefered Sadie as she was the cool kid I wanted to be. But the second time I read I saw myself in that weird kid with a lot of book smart and no social skill who liked order and wanted to do the right thing and as an older brother myself I started to get his annoyance with Sadie as my own brother got closer to her in age. In sumary Carter is baby and a great characther and I love him very much. This boy is my son and if you hurt him I'll hunt you for sport.

2. Toph - Avatar The Last Airbender

The only reason AITA wasn't on the first list was because I could not for the life of me choose what characther to put. This show has too much great ones. But I mean look at this little hellion. She is great! She is strong and funny and complex and I love her soo much. She deserves everyting.

3. Oswald Cooblepot - Gotham

The only show where Ed Nygma exist, is a proeminent characther and is not my fave by far. Instead we have this awesome gay murderer and his amazing fashion sense and his knifes, he is babygirl material and you know it!

Also he is the characther with more potential for emotional development bar Bruce and that is a huuge plus for me.

4. Edward Teach, Captain Blackbeard - Our Flag Means Death

Well I had to put an Ed.

It was really hard to choose one favorite characther from this show and I was very close to putting both Lucius and Oluwande (or even Stede himself). But after a long delibaration, I choose Ed. His arc is just very interesting for me and I love the way he speaks. Also I love his clothing style.

5. Seu Edson - Irmão do Jorel

Edson is from one of the best brazilian cartoons ever. Irmão do Jorel captures the feeling of being a brazilian kid in the 90's/early 00's while still being relatable to it's audience of modern kids and Edson himself is great. First he is a dilf. Second he is a jornalist. Third he is very funny. Between his hate for the elites, his dedication and love for his family, his love for rock and the amazing sentence "son when I was your age I was eight years old" this man is everything for me. He is the type of weird brazilian dad I hope to be if I ever have kids.

6. Aziraphale - Good Omens

It was really hard to choose between him and Crowley, but between his fantasticly weird vocabulary, his love for books and his very relatable family issues I just had to pick the angel this time. I love both soo much though.

Azi is baby, Azi is life.

7. Yuu Kashima - Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-Kun

I almost choose Mikoshiba, but this girl is too much my queen. She is gender non-conforming, canonically atracted for both man and woman and a theather nerd. She is also a bit of a troublemaker, a huge flirt and always late. I love her soo much.

8. Magali - Turma da Mônica

As any brazilian I love Turma da Mônica and Magali is just great, she is always hungry but she is also a cat person, a great friend, a lil sarcastic baby and her aunt is a witch (and as a teen so is her). She is the best.

9. Vó - Historietas Assombradas Para Crianças Mal-Criadas

I regreted a lot not putting her in the first list and I'm not one for making the same mistake twice. Tecnically she doesn't have a name since Vó is just grandma in portuguese and she is the protagonist grandma. Anyway she is great. Her whole cartoon is a great child cartoon with a lot of gothic and horror elements. Vó is a very badass old woman and a very powerfull witch, she has a lot of cats who help her with her potion making, is extremely sarcastic (more than Oswald) and a tad mean but she cares for her grandson a lot even if she doesn't always shows it. She is the older sister of Death and she is the ex-girlfriend of the Devil (who is a sad divorced captalist and it's implied to have created that universe version of Pokemon). She is super cool and I really love her. She also totaly has a body count.

10. Misroch - Brimstone Valley Mail

Again my last entrance is from a podcast, but what can I do? Misroch is great. They are just very fun and possibly the impulse control of their whole friend group. I love them. And what isn't in it to love in a sassy non-binary rocker demon who sells human hot-dogs? I also gave them the biggest honor of headcannoing them as autistic.

Tags:

I already tagged ten people the first time, this time I will tag a bit less. Anyway, no presure, do it if you think you'll have fun: @empresspengwin, @allaboardthecolumboat, @krkringle

[szottesfolditanyak]

What if

Ha a véletlen ilyen szépen előhozta az előző posztbeli cikket pár napja, én ezt kihasználom, merthogy háttérnek kitűnő lesz, mivel ez a mai valahogy láncledobósnak ígérkezik. Amikor a középkor sötét elmaradottságát szemléltetik a tudásra szomjas ifjúságnak, ritkán mulasztják el megemlíteni az úgynevezett istenítéleteket. Valakit megvádolnak egy cselekedettel, és a megvádoltnak kézbe kell vennie egy izzó tárgyat. Ha ártatlan, nem égeti meg magát, ellenkező esetben igen. Ismerjük a toposzt mindannyian. Ahh, mely babonaság, teszi még hozzá a tanítómester. Ez a séma számtalan forrásban fennmaradt, hozok ide egy nagyon aranyosat, Trisztán és Izolda történetét, a Bédier általit. Ezt xii. századi források alapján 1900-ban állította össze Joseph Bédier. (A végére rakom, hosszú, ne törje össze ezt a szöveget. Van benne még egy külön finesz is, extra tündéri.) A Föld túlfelén, százévekkel ez előtt, a Cshándógja-upanisad így ír:

1. - Kedvesem, megkötött kezekkel hurcolnak egy embert, és azt kiabálják: Rabló, gonosztevő, tüzesítsétek a fejszét! Ha ő tette, igaztalannak bizonyul. Igaztalanul szólva igaztalanba takaródzik, megfogja a tüzes fejszét, megég, kivégzik. 2. De ha nem ő tette, igaznak bizonyul. Igazat szólva az igazságba takaródzik, megfogja a tüzes fejszét, nem ég meg, szabadon eresztik. 3. Ami által ő meg nem égett, az a mindenség lényege, az a Valóság, az a Lélek, Az vagy Te is, Fehérfényes. Így tanította, így tanította.

Na és nekem ez megakadt és megmaradt, ez azért nem csak egy pizzaszámla, vagy merő intellektuális trükk, hogy ami által ő meg nem égett, az a mindenség lényege. What if? Ma persze senki nem fogdos tüzes fejszéket, mert megég. De mivel a fentiek számtalan helyen meg vannak írva, két választásunk lehet: vagy rutinból és gondolkodás nélkül lehülyézzük a régieket, vagy feltesszük, hogy nem voltak ők se hülyék, csak épp máshogy működött a világ. Ők meg leírták, hogyan. The books were crystals with recorded contents. They could be read with the aid of an opton, which was similar to a book but had only one page between the covers.

Elsőre úgy tűnik, hogy a fenti választási lehetőségben a képzelet harcol az elme észszerűségével. Hiszen a fizika! És a jelen korban ebben a vitában csak a fizika győzhet. De nem, nem feltétlen, sőt választani sem biztosan szükséges az egyiket. A fizikának azt is sikerült megoldania száz éve, hogy egy elektron két lukon tud egyszerre átmenni, sőt igazából a tengerparton a pálmafák között interferálnának a tigrisek is, ha nagyobb lenne a Planck-állandó. Különben, bár a mai fizika ilyen stabil alapokra épül, mint a Planck-állandó, a fénysebesség korlát volta, a kozmológiai állandó értéke és effélék, az, hogy ezek az évmilliárdok során más értékeket vehettek fel, valós, létező fizikai diszkusszió tárgya, koránt sincs kőbe vésve. Kérdőjelezz meg mindent, suttogják a fizikusok. Mindegy, bánom is én a fizikát. Csak egy játék. Csak egy rövid időre elképzelni azt, hogy a világ titokzatosabb, mint gondolnánk, hogy a világgal lehet úgymond kommunikálni, gesztusokkal például, hogy az ember az életét teszi tétnek egy számára fontos ügyben. És a szív tisztaságának függvényében a világ válaszol.           What if? Hogy régen a világ más volt, valamennyire; hogy az akkori emberek sem voltak hülyék - bár észszerűek kevésbé, mint mi - ; és hogy minden kor emberének a maga tárgyi és pszichikai környezetével kell megküzdenie, a kor által megengedett eszközökkel. Talán így volt - talán így van -, és hogy nyertünk-e mi ebben a mi korunkban azzal, hogy feltaláltuk a repülőgépet meg a rovarirtókat az eszünkkel, cserébe pedig elvesztettünk mindent, ami nem ésszerű.

A rigid ész ezt itt fent nem veszi be.

A rigid észnek van egy üzenete 1300 körülből, egy eretnekséget épp csak megúszó dominikánus szerzetes egyik prédikációja végéről: Aki ezt a beszédet nem érti, az ne keserítse vele szívét. Mert amíg az ember nem olyan, mint ez az igazság, addig nem fogja megérteni ezt a beszédet sem.

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

Márk nem várt tovább kopóra, vadászra, toronyiránt Tintagelnek sarkantotta lovát. Terem grádicsain fölsietett. A királyné hallá gyors léptei dobogását a pádimentumon. Fölkelt, elébe indult, szokás szerént elvette Márk kardját, s lába előtt földig hajolt. Márk kézen fogván, felemelte, s akkor Izolda a királyra tekintvén látá, hogy annak nemes vonásit düh torzítja el: a máglyánál rémlett egykor ilyennek bomlott haragjában. "Jaj! — gondolta Izolda. — Rátaláltak kedvesemre, elfogta a király!" Szíve csak meghűlt bensőjében, s ő egy hang nélkül a király lábához roskadott. Az felkarolta, gyöngéden megcsókolá, s lassan-lassan Izolda feléledt. — Lelkem, galambom, mi bánt? — Félek, felség, Oly bosszúsnak láttalak. — Igen, haragra gerjedve jöttem meg a vadászatról. — Jaj, uram, ha vadászid ingereltek föl, illik-e oly igen szívedre venned a vadászat bosszúságait? Elmosolyodék e szóra Márk király. — Nem, galambom, nem vadászim ingereltek föl, hanem három ármánykodó, akik régótátul fogva gyűlölnek bennünket. Ismered is: Andretet, Denoalent és Godwint; elkergettem őket országomból. — Felség, vajon s mi rosszat mertek rám mondani? — Mit törődöl véle? Elkergettem őket.

— Felség, mindenkinek joga, hogy kimondja, mit gondol. De nekem is jussom ismernem a rám szórt szidalmat. És kitől tudnám meg, hahogy nem tetőled? Egyedül vagyok én ez idegen földön, nincs senkim is, Felség, egy temagad kívül, engem megvédeni. — Nem bánom. Azt mondották tehát, hogy esküvéssel és tüzesvas-próbával illenék magadat igazolnod. „Avagy nem kellene-é, hogy a királyné - mondták - maga kérjen istenítéletet? Ha ki magát bűntelennek tudja, könnyű ez a próba. Bízvást megtehetné... Isten igaz bíró; gyökerestül kigyomlálná a gyanút..." Hát ezt mondták; no de hadd el. Mondom: elkergettem őket. Megborzongott Izolda; a királyra nézett: — Felség, rendeld vissza őket udvarodba! Esküvéssel fogom magam igazolni. — Mikor? — Tizednapra. — Közeli idő az, lelkem. — Inkább ugyan messzi. De kérlek, hogy aznapiglan izend meg Arthur királynak, üljön lóra Gauvain nagyúrral, Girflettel és Ké udvarmesterrel, jöjjön el száz lovag élén országodnak mezsgyéjére, a Fenyérre, a fejérre, határfolyó fövenyére. Ott akarok esküt tenni ő előttük — és nem csupán báróidnak színe előtt; hisz mihelyest megesküdtem, bujtogatnának a bárók, hogy parancsolj újabb próbát, és kínunknak soha-soha nem szakadna vége. De nem mernek, ha Arthur és lovaginak száza lesz az ítéletben igazlátó. Miközben Arthur királyhoz Karduelbe futottak a fullajtárok Márk üzenetével, apródját, a szőke fürtű, hű Perinist, titkon Trisztánhoz küldötte Izolda. Perinis az erdőn osont; járatlanért hagyta el a járt utat. Elért Orri erdőkerülőnek kunyhójához, holott Trisztán napok óta várta már. Rendre elbeszélé az újan lett dolgokat, az új ármánykodást meg az istenítéletnek jelös napját, óráját és helyét: — Uram, Trisztán, azt üzeni asszonyom, hogy ama kitűzött napon a Fenyérre fegyvertelen jöjj el. Magad személyét ügyesen rejtsd zarándokgúnya alá, hogy ingyen se vélekezzék valódi voltodra senki. Istenítélet helyére bárka viszi át a vízen Izoldát. Folyam túlsó partján várj rá Arthur király vitézivel. Bizonnyal ott segítségére lehetsz. Igen retteg asszonyom az istenítélet napjától; bízván bízik mindazáltal oltalmában az Istennek, ki őt poklosok keziből ki tudta ragadni. — Menj vissza a királynéhoz, édes szép barátom. Mondd meg neki, mint akarja, úgy teszek. Történt pedig, nagyurak, hogy mikoron Perinis visszaindult volna Tintagelbe, észrevette a bozótban az erdőkerülőt, ki a szeretőket egykor alva lelvén az erdőben, elárulta a királynak. Álnokságával ez eldicsekedett vala egyszer részegen. Most mély vermet vájt a földbe, ügyesen béfödte gallyal: farkast akart fogni benne, vadkant veszejteni. Látván rája törni a királyné apródját, bezzeg futott volna. De Perinis a verem szélére szorítja.

— Királynénak árulója, mire menekednél? Maradj itt a gödör meIlett, magad ástad sírveremnek! Suhogott a fütykös, ahogy felemelte. Husáng kettétörtén koponya elhasadt. Szőke fürtű hű Perinis berúgta a tetemet a gallyal fedett gödörbe. Amaz ítéletre rendelt napon Márk király, Izolda meg a kornwalli bárók szép rendben ellovagolván a Fenyérig, a fejérig, juttak vala a folyóhoz. A víz túlsó partja mentén sorban álltak Arthur daliái, s fényes lobogókkal köszöntötték őket.

Előttük a marton szegény zarándok ült, csuháján kagylók fityegtek, nyújtott kezében fatálka, szívet tépő kántálással koldult alamizsnát. Nagy evezőcsapásokkal közeledtek a kornwalli bárkák. Kikötéskor kérdé a körülte álló lovagoktól Izolda:

— Iszamós a part iszapja, nagyurak! Hosszú ruhám hogyan óvjam tőle? Vigyen ki valami révész a partra. Odainté egyikük a zarándokot.

— Nosza, jámbor, tűrd föl azt a csuhát, lépj a vízbe, és fogd a királynét, hacsak nem félsz, hogy leroskadsz félúton, mert ugyan törődöttnek látszol! Az karjába emelte a királynét. Halkan szólítá Izolda: — Kedves! — Aztán még halkabbul: — Roskadjál le a homokra! Partot érvén a zarándok, megbotlott és elesett; karja között a királynét szorosan ölelte. A lovászok meg a hajósnépek csáklyát csóváltak feléje, s evezőkkel kergeték a szegény ördögöt. — Hagyjátok — mondotta a királyné. — Tán hosszú zarándokúttól erőtlenedett el.

És leoldván egy sárarany boglárt, odavetette a zarándoknak. Arthur sátra előtt niceai pompás selyemszőnyeg volt a gyepre Ieterítve, s rajta már kirakva rendre sok-sok régi szent ereklye, mit eddiglen drága urnák, szentelt szelencék rejtettek. Gauvain nagyúr, Girflet meg Ké udvarmester voltak őrizői. A királyné előbb Istenhez könyörögvén, nyakáról, kezéről levett minden gyöngyöt, éket, és veté a koldusoknak; bíborköntösét kioldá, gyönge kendőjét odaadta, odaadta ingvállát is, bokáig érő ruháját, drágaköves cipellőjét. Csak könnyű gyolcs fedte testét, karját borítatlan hagyván, s mezítláb az két királyok eleiben indulna. Karéjban álltak a bárók, és könnyezve nézték. Parázs izzott az ereklyék előtt. Izolda reszketeg kinyújtotta karját a szent csontok felé, és ekképpen szólott: — Logresnek királya és te, Kornwallnak királya, Gauvain, Ké és Girflet nagyurak, s mindnyájan, kik az ítéletben igazlátók lesztek, esküszöm az ereklyékre s minden szent ereklyére az ég alatt: anyától született férfi soha engem karja között nem tartott, csupán az uram, Márk király, meg az a szegény zarándok, ki szemetek láttára itt leroskadt az imént. Érőt ér-e így az eskü, Márk király? — Így igen, királyné. Most az Isten mutassa meg igaz ítéletét! — Amen! — rebegte Izolda.

Odalépett a parázshoz, sápadtan, tétován. Mindnyájan elhallgatának: vörösen izzott a vas. Akkor mezítelen karral a parázsba nyúlván, két marokra megragadta Izolda a vasrudat. Kilenclépésnyire vitte, azután a vasat hátravetvén, két karját keresztbe tette, kinyitotta tenyerét. Húsa szemlátomást ép és hamvas maradt, akár a szedetlen szilva.

Hozsánna szállt akkor minden szívből az Istenhez.

[artsy-hobbitses]

I just realized how dense and hard unlearning his childhood programming must be for Prowl. Since childhood is the developmental stage in babies, but he technically never had that. It was all forced on him. So how much of him is actually ‘him’ and what does he decide to do afterwards he gets some self-determined identity?

You see the fucking horrific implications for most CCs in police states now yes QuQ;;;

Megatron is lucky in that aspect, that he was not raised with programming---he was raised with an actual person who loved him and tried to let him be himself despite having to be tied to a thankless, dangerous job he’s destined to die in since birth. Not that it makes things any better, but he knows who he is

Starscream did not fare as well, which is why he’s adopted manipulation specifically so he could survive a cutthroat environment and eventually literally steal his freedom by being a willy bastard. And he has to come to terms with the notion of who he is under that mask and how he let himself wear that mask to get where he is, and if it was all worthit (he owns everything that he’s ever done and insists that it is, and he regrets nothing, only that the world was so shit to him that it was the only way out that was provided to him)

Prowl’s been handed a shit hand from the get go, and he never really had the space to question the system at all. It’s actually very highly likely he did at some point---there are parts of his memory about certain things in his past which are spotty/blank for no good reason, which makes him wonder if he had been ‘reformatted’ in an Institute once or twice when he spoke out of line (he can’t find information, since a lot of the records were burnt when Decepticons stormed these Institutes, so he will likely never know).  It’s also likely why he doesn’t process emotions the same way Megs or Starscream does, he’s gone through the thing the both of them feared most growing up, though clearly there is something down there that refuses to be overwritten, because time and time again, he’s actually able to make an independent choice  that goes directly against the conventions of programming, and while it occasionally makes him disassociate when it comes to major decisions, he’s aware that he isn’t his programming. There’s no quantifying how much of him is down there, but Jazz is always adamant that the answer is ‘enough’.  He does mundane things when he gets some sense of identity: read books, listen to music and watch media that were banned in his country, attempt to find some sense of self-gratification in a hobby, attempt to figure out why people act the way they do so he can understand his team mates better, because behind that near-emotionless facade he presents, there is a man who genuinely wants to find connections in this world.  He also does major things when he gets some sense of identity.... like saving thousands of miners during the Messatine Mining Disaster (how he gets there will be an interesting story). 

[elenarodriiguez]

Cherry Milkshake, Mirinda, Grapefruit Juice, Red Bull & Chocolate Milkshake!!

cherry milkshake: what cartoon do you still like to watch?

i don’t watch much telly, but lilo & stitch is my favourite animated disney film

mirinda: what food combination do you want to ban?

mint & chocolate! it’s minging

grapefruit juice: when you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time?

if i have the mental energy, i’ll read, if i don’t, i’ll scroll through shit on my phone

red bull: if you had a theme song, what would it be?

if you want a depressing one: do all my friends hate me? by mckenna grace. a less depressing one: vivid dream by yours truly

chocolate milkshake: if you could ask advice from any book character, who would it be?

ooh, maybe sarah nelson from heartstopper

thanks for the ask megs!! 💓

drinks ask