#new english library

[driveintheaterofthemind]

The Shadow #01: The Living Shadow by Maxwell Grant (UK)

New English Library

[aranazo]

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Candy by Terry Southern.

[everythingsecondhand]

Scorch, by Neil Wiliams (NEL, 1975).

From a second-hand bookshop in London.

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

DO THEY EXPERIENCE FEAR ON OTHER WORLDS? -- IS DEEP SPACE INFINITE?

PIC INFO: Spotlight on isolated artwork of the "Star Beast," c. 1978, artwork by Joe Petagno, from the science fiction novel of the same name written by Robert A Heinlein, published in 1954.

EXTRA INFO: Joe Petagno artwork from the first printing of the 1978 edition published by the New English Library (NEL).

Source: www.picuki.com/media/3059425116371366894.

[deadlypoetacademia]

Born to be a character written by Jane Austen, with "You have bewitched me body and soul. And I love … I love … I love you." Forced to live up as a character written by dostovesky, miserable, touch starved and touch repulsed.

[lionofchaeronea]

Illustration by William Heath Robinson of Thumbelina, facing page 64 of Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales, London: Constable, 1913. Now in the New York Public Library.

[oscarwildin]

rewatching the same movie and hoping it doesn’t end the same way it has 100 times before

[basicallyanotherwitchesthing]

George Garrett - Do, Lord, Remember Me - NEL - 1972

[lacemyribbons]

“I am the pulse of late nights, smoke curling in the air, a book in one hand and laughter in the other, lost in the rhythm of living and dreaming.”

[disguisedfeelings]

And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.

Rainer Maria Rilke

[essektheylyss]

I am genuinely only packing two* books for a week-long trip tomorrow. It's a spring miracle.

*I will have my tablet with a truly absurd quantity of academic books and also two baby books for a shower I'm attending and also my entire manuscript to read through. But bygones.

[thevictorianarchive]

the start of a new semester

[romanticize-until-you-drop]

2023-12-18

Lattes, essays, and libraries on a rainy day.

Finals may be creeping up on me, but for just a moment, everything is ok.

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

So my state is going to the Supreme Court to ask if they can remove books from their library.

As an English major and a reader/writer, this is disgusting. Why are we removing books for? They’re for learning and entertainment. And they want to take that away?

What is wrong with people?

[deadlypoetacademia]

[briechyne]

Weirdly Motivated to Write

Well, I did say that I have a new keyboard—to correct my posture and not look like a pretzel while I work remotely. Small victories, right?

Now, let’s talk about motivation. Because for some reason, I am absolutely buzzing with it today. Is it because of my keyboard? Most likely. Is that weird? Probably. But hey, I never claimed to be normal.

See, besides being a full-time student, I also have a job. And that job? Writing. Creating. Capturing life in words, pictures, and fleeting moments of inspiration. Filming, writing, photography—these are the things that make me absolutely happy. And honestly? Life is just too beautiful not to share.

There’s something about having the right tools that makes everything feel different. You could give me the exact same blank document yesterday, and I wouldn’t have been nearly as eager to write as I am today. But now? With my new keyboard? I feel like I could churn out a whole novel, rewrite history, or at the very least, write an unnecessarily long blog post about why I feel like writing.

Maybe it’s the clickity-clackity. (Yes, that’s a technical term.) There’s just something deeply satisfying about hearing each keystroke, like a tiny round of applause with every word I type. It’s hypnotizing. Encouraging. Addictive, even. Without it, I don’t think I’d be half as motivated to write.

And that brings me to a very important question:

Could this mean my iPad will replace my laptop?

Ha! Not a chance. Never. Not in a million years.

As much as I love this setup, there are things my iPad just cannot do. And honestly, those things make a huge difference in my daily workflow. Don’t get me wrong—iPads are fantastic. They’re lightweight, portable, and perfect for quick notes, reading, or sketching. But when it comes to serious work? My Windows laptop remains irreplaceable.

Why My Windows Laptop Wins Every Time

Multitasking Like a Pro iPads have some multitasking capabilities, but let's be real—nothing beats having multiple windows open, side by side, without limitations. On my laptop, I can have a research paper in one window, my notes in another, a video playing on the side, and Spotify running in the background. Try doing that on an iPad without constantly swiping between apps. It’s just not the same.

File Management That Actually Makes Sense The Windows file system is superior. Hands down. Drag-and-drop functionality, proper file explorer, external drive support—it’s just easier. iPads, on the other hand, have a clunky file system that often makes me want to scream into the void. Copying files? Moving them? Finding them again? It takes way longer than it should.

Software Compatibility & Heavy-Duty Programs This one’s a dealbreaker. There are so many professional-grade applications that just don’t run on iPads. Things like:

Adobe Premiere Pro for serious video editing (iPad versions are limited)

Photoshop & Illustrator (yes, they have mobile versions, but they’re nowhere near as powerful)

Microsoft Excel with Macros (because let's be honest, the iPad version is lacking)

Programming software & full IDEs (if I ever decide to code, my iPad will just sit there, useless)

Mouse & Keyboard Freedom Yes, iPads can connect to a mouse and keyboard, but do they truly function like a laptop? Nope. There are still weird limitations. Right-clicking? Custom shortcuts? The precision of a real trackpad or external mouse? Windows just does it better. Period.

Downloading Anything Without Jumping Through Hoops iPads don’t let you download everything you want, especially if it’s outside the App Store. Need a program that isn’t on Apple’s list of approved software? Too bad. Meanwhile, on Windows? I can download whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want. No restrictions.

Serious Writing & Formatting Writing on an iPad is fine for quick drafts, but when it comes to formatting long documents, citations, and exporting files in different formats? My laptop is my best friend. Whether it's proper PDF editing, running reference managers like Zotero, or managing multiple Word documents with complex layouts, iPads just don’t cut it.

Gaming & Emulation Okay, maybe not work-related, but still important! iPads have mobile games, sure. But do they run full-fledged PC games? Nope. Can I use them for game modding? Nope. Can I play older games with emulators? Again, nope. My Windows laptop, on the other hand? Unlimited possibilities.

The Verdict?

As much as I love the convenience of my iPad + keyboard combo, it will never replace my laptop. Ever. My laptop is where the real magic happens—the deep work, the serious projects, the things that actually require a proper computer.

But will I still use my iPad for writing on the go? Absolutely. Because nothing beats the clickity-clackity joy of my new keyboard. And if that keeps me weirdly motivated to write, then hey—I’ll take it.

So if you ever see me typing away somewhere, looking ridiculously focused, just know—it’s not me. It’s the keyboard.