#salem book club

[academicwitchversion]

[citysvg1]

Salem Book Club Svg

[a-cloud-for-dreams]

Soulmates— I MEAN narrative foils who have a deep understanding of each other there is nothing unprofessional or scandalous going on here-

[lover-also-fighter-also]

Thank you @choicesbookclub / @lovealexhunt for this amazing template for the ILITW MC profile!

Submitting this to you to add it into the MC directory.

[grownups-are-the-real-monsters]

IT fans.....please jump fully into Stephen King's work and discover all the other fun LGBTQA+ ships.....👀‼

[printcharms]

[arbitrarygreay]

Finished Motherland Fort Salem

There's a lot that can be forgiven due to the cancellation leading to their crushing in the rest of the their 5 season plan. The main aspects that I could feel getting cut for time were Nicte and Anacostia's various threads, and then Brandt's unique threat. (Well, there was also the unfortunate production issue of working around the car accident.) The former two characters had wonderful dynamics with all of the cast, and most of Nicte's got heavily abridged while Anacostia was sadly isolated from the rest of the cast for most of the season. Meanwhile, I was hoping that Brandt turned out to be either a third option (between witch and non-witch) or to explore a case of witch self-loathing, but they stuck with Hearst for the end instead. Still, you could tell how much love suffused this production (carrying over to how the story itself believed in love), and how they were trying to do right by all of the characters as much as possible in the time they had. The world building was still clearly well thought out, the plotting constructed logically from that world-building and how the characters are formed from it. Tally really out here building a harem of war criminal cougars as the core of the mass polycule. I do feel like in the original formulation of the show, Raelle and Abigail were more of the show's focus (they're the obvious primary duo according to shounen anime expectations), but then Jes swept in and you could feel the writing falling in love with her charisma and universal chemistry in real time, rejiggering to have her interact with the older characters more than with her peers. And yes, Izadora remains my not-so-secret fave. Necro mad science ftw.

[lunearobservatory]

Oh and ofc he's for sure a multiple times over battlefield nurse??? Literal war medic??? He went to HMS in 1790 and then went back in 1990, bc I like to think he updates his medical knowledge

I want to talk more abt Massachusetts being rly fucking smart. Like. He certainly has multiple degrees. Mathematics from Harvard??? Compsci from MIT??? And more, probably. I like to think every 30 or so odd years he gets antsy and considers going again

[the---hermit]

vampire books

I realized this year I have read quite a few vampire books and decided to see how many I have in my collection. The pile looks taller than it actually is because I have three different editions of Carmilla. I do have a few more vampire books on my wishlist including Anno Dracula, and that edition of Dracula that is the translation of the early 20th century Icelandic translation by Valdimar Ásmundsson, who apparently took so many liberties he wrote another novel entirely. And I cannot wait to get my hands on either of those.

the books in the pile from top to bottom in case you are curious or looking for recs:

The Vampyre by John Polidori

Due Racconti di Vampiri - a small book containing The Horror Of Abbot's Grange and The Night Wind Howls by Frederick Ignatius Cowels

Resurgir: Vampirismi dall'America Latina edited by Lorenzo Incarbone - a small collection of short stories about vampires by Latin American authors

Fangs by Sarah Andersen

The Southern Book Club's Guide To Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Salem's Lot by Stephen King

Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice

Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu

Dracula by Bram Stoker

[yikesharringrove]

steve and billy teaching in the same school!! there's these teachers in my school and they work right across the hall from each other. they're always yelling into each others classrooms.

she teaches english lit 101 and he teaches gov 102

"Harrington!"

Some of the kids snickered quietly when Mr. Harrington jumped at the shout from across the hall.

He stared blankly at the last word he had written on the board, the black Expo mark wiggles from where he had jumped at the yell of his name.

He turned around, sighing exaggeratedly at Mr. Hargrove standing in the doorway.

"Kids, excuse my coworker here." He crossed his arms around his chest. "Can I help you?"

"Yeah, you can Mr. H."

Steve rolled his eyes as his husband swaggered into his classroom, leading a line of ninth graders with him.

It's not the first time Billy's interrupted his class with a question about some inane bullshit that launched Steve into an over-excited rant for the rest of class.

Steve's tenth and eleventh graders were already closing their textbooks, knowing their teacher was just about to be insanely distracted for the rest of class.

"The birds n' I are reading The Crucible."

Fuck.

Steve's pretty sure Billy's kids pay him to bring them across the hall for these impromptu lectures.

"Witch hunts. I get it."

"Yeah, you know. Anyway, I'm giving some context to the publishing of the book. The Red Scare in the United States, well, the second Red Scare, as well as the rise of McCarthyism coincided with the publishing of the play."

Goddammit.

Steve's fucking master's thesis was on all about McCarthyism (more specifically, how the second Red Scare was directly linked to the Lavender Scare.) He cited the stupid play in his research.

Billy knows that. They were already engaged by the time Steve began his master's program.

Fuck this guy, for real.

Steve quietly closed his power point presentation on interest groups in America.

"Fine. Mr. Hargrove's class, find a seat. My class, your packet is still due Friday. I'll post the slides after class." He glared at Billy.

Billy grinned right back, his tongue poking out in that frustrating way it has since high school.

"1950s United States. What do you know?"

A few hands went up.

Even Billy raised his stupid hand. Steve ignored him.

-

"Which brings us to the end of the decade. With the early 1960s, we have the reformation in the Catholic Church, known as Vatican ll-"

The bell cut him off mid-sentence, and there was a mad scramble as the students all tried to pack up as quickly as possible, before Steve could keep going.

"My class," he nearly shouted over the scraping of chairs against linoleum. "Your packets are still due Friday! I don't care that Mr. Hargrove interrupted our time."

"And birds! The rubric is posted on the class page! I want outlines handed in on Tuesday."

The classroom door closed behind the final kid.

"You're a dick."

Billy laughed.

"Nah, you just teach that shit so much better than I do."

Steve rolled his eyes. He sat behind his desk, yanking over a stack of twelfth grade research assignments to begin grading. Billy perched on the other side of his desk.

"Y'know, you could just ask me to come in and lecture. You don't have to interrupt my own class."

"Yeah, but it's fun to wind you up and watch you go. And I think the birds like it when they see that you're passionate about something. Why do you think I always start with The Joy Luck Club?"

"Because you have mommy issues."

"No. Because Ying-ying's story makes me sob like a bitch, and the birds get to realize that I'm a real-life human."

Steve scrubbed his face with his hands, collecting himself before facing his dumbass husband again.

"Wait, you said they had an essay due. What's the essay?"

"Oh, comparing the Salem Witch Trials and the goings on of the U.S. government in the mid 1950s. You know."

"So, you created an assignment, knowing that I would infodump all that shit to your kids?"

"Yes."

"I want a divorce."

Billy laughed, leaning over Steve's desk to kiss his forehead.

"No, you don't."

"No, I don't. I love you. But also you suck."

The bell sounded to indicate the end of passing period.

Billy got off the desk, stretching with a groan.

"Would you be mad if I brought my senior class in?"

Steve glared at him in the doorway.

"What's the assignment?"

"They're presenting on the parallels between 1984 and the current political climate."

Goddammit.

"Bring 'em in."

[ckret2]

I know I’m hella late but I feel like my answer for why bill had so many wives in his cult (although I will admit I have not seen all of the cult stuff yet) is because he just sorta, feels ‘bad’ for wives in shitty relationships, like, when we’re going thought bill’s history with earth in the book of bill, we specifically have a detour for the Salem Witch Trials where bill shows up as a goat to help wives that were witnessing each other either get worked to the bone or basically die to bullshit trials by both giving them access to actual witchcraft and also iirc implied to kill their shitty husbands?

Point is, watsonian wise, I don’t think bill has a bunch of wives in his cult for sexual or hyper specific reasons or the like, I think bill has a bunch of wives in his cult because he basically goes up to them, goes “hey, you shitty relationship is shitty and looks like it sucks, you wanna join the cool club?” and most of them just, do to spice up their lives

TL:DR Women just really like chaotic demonic triangles

"Bill was doing it just to be nice" is somehow the most hilarious possible explanation AND it has plausible textual support.

although pretty clearly from the chapter it didn't go "ladies, do you wanna marry me?" so much as "men, let me marry your wives!" so i don't think he invited them, it sounds like he just sorta ordered them. But still. Doesn't rule out the possibility he was trying to do a favor.

[grapefruitey]

Temperance threw him an annoyed look. She didn't like jokes at the best of times since the good ones had the tendency to throw her off her indifferently cool game. Although it was working. Her fear was lessened just slightly by frustration that he wasn't taking things seriously. That felt like normal at least. She would do anything for normalcy right then. Even the smell was off. She remembered what the house smelled like when she first walked in. It was all new paint and stale air. Now it was almost humid. Thick. Temperance knew what normal new houses smelled like and this was not it.

"Either we waste our time remeasuring everything that I already know is off or I go straight to the one room that doesn't fit." Her confidence was entirely fake at that moment. Some primal part of her brain was screaming at that. She wouldn't be shocked if her legs refused to respond to the order to move. Yet she took two steps closer to that ordinary looking door. The power of stubbornness was not to be underestimated. "You keep the door propped open and I'll measure the inside. We'll have an answer in minutes" It was just a room. Likely a closet that was built but not identified on the plans. This could be just some special mental trick like that house in California. Her inexplicable fear shouldn't be a factor. Temperance forced herself farther, to just within arms reach of the doorknob.

"i know you're a skeptic and, for argument's sake, i kinda am too." it was something salem prided himself on and it brought a certain legitimacy to the podcast that people tended to appreciate. "but let's just not tempt anything with a 'cut once', right?" he joked. laser distance measurer? okay, that was tight. "you had me at lasers." only his jokes were doing very little to cut through the tension of the house. the air inside weighed on them with a density that surpassed fog. it was something profane and he felt sick and stupid and scared all at once. it was unlike any feeling he'd experience. he'd yawned his way through the queen mary. slept like a baby in room 545 of the grove park inn. this place made him feel something new. something wrong. and it was just a house.

"uh, i'm sorry, you want to what?" now she sounded like she was spooked. she was supposed to be the reasonable one. "okay, so we have the outer measurements. you want to measure inside too? no problem." he could stand in the doorway and point the laser easily to the back of any closet, but something still didn't feel right. he wanted to object, but for what reason? "i mean, it's just a stupid closet." he echoed her.

[sapphicbookclub]

Author Spotlight: Tiana Warner

Who says witches are only for October? Author of current club read How to Flirt with a Witch, Tiana Warner, highlights the role of witches as feminist icons in a proposal to make 2025 the year of the witch!

Witches as feminist icons: 5 reasons to make 2025 the year of the witch

Between books, TV, movies, and musicals, witches are having a heyday, and it’s about time. In fact, now is better than ever for this symbol of female power to rise to popularity.

Here are 5 reasons witches are total icons that we should all aspire to.

Joan of Arc

1. Witches defy societal norms

This is no surprise, but witch hunts of the past weren’t really about magic. They were about controlling and suppressing women and marginalized people.

Living without a man? Independent income? Hanging out with other women instead of trying to find a husband? How dangerous. Must be a witch.

Many women accused of witchcraft were unconventional, independent (unmarried or widowed), or had strong social bonds with other women. They were boldly different—and today, we can channel the energy of those fierce women as a source of strength.

2. Witches challenge the patriarchy

Witch trials were fueled by the fear and hatred of women, especially those who were “disobedient”. This misogyny often intersected with homophobia, as women who formed close connections with other women were seen as threats to the traditional family structure. People were also targeted based on race and class. In essence, “witches” were strong women and marginalized individuals whom society deemed too deviant, too threatening, and too powerful.

3. Covens are found family

Covens are communities whose members share resources, knowledge, and strength, forming a united and unstoppable force. These sisterhoods are all about mutual support, creating a sense of belonging that is often lacking in mainstream society.

Today’s witches and Wiccan covens continue the tradition of solidarity, providing inclusive spaces for people to explore their spiritual paths without fear of judgment.

4. Witches resist traditional gender roles and sexuality

There’s something wonderfully sapphic about a group of women living together and doing little witchy spells and rituals. But the link between witches and sapphism is more than that. Back in the witch trials, deviations in sexuality and gender were used to justify witchcraft accusations. Joan of Arc was targeted for being “manly” and wearing men’s clothing. Even some men who defied societal norms, particularly queer men or those seen as feminine, were accused of witchcraft. The Malleus Maleficarum, the infamous 15th-century witch-hunting manual, warned against acting “unwomanly” and said witches engaged in sexual relations with other women.

Medieval people might have been terrified of sexuality, but today, sexuality is something to be celebrated. Joan of Arc is now a symbol of resilience. Witches in popular culture come in all the colors of the rainbow. Modern Wiccan traditions embrace feminist ideals that uplift queer identities. Witches continue to live outside conventional gender roles, defying societal expectations around sexuality, clothing, and lifestyles. 

5. Witches are symbols of resilience

Feared and revered, witches have always been powerful women who live by their own rules. In medieval times, accusations of witchcraft were used to silence women, and the legacy of those who fought against the injustices lives on. From a dark history, witches have come to represent the strength and solidarity needed to overcome oppression. And in today’s media, what is a witch if not a strong woman fighting for what she wants?

From the Salem witch trials to modern Wiccan practices and witches in the media, witches have always been badass icons of defiance, feminism, and empowerment. Gather your coven, channel the fierce energy of our witchy ancestors, and let’s make 2025 the year of the witch.

About the Author

Tiana Warner is the author of How to Flirt with a Witch, a Sapphic Romantasy novel launching December 10th.

Tiana is a multi-award-winning sapphic romance author from British Columbia, Canada. She is passionate about animal welfare and is an active volunteer with local dog rescue organizations. You can often find her cuddling a foster dog, riding her horse Flynn, or exploring nature.

[a-cloud-for-dreams]

AAAAAAH SALEM THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE!!

The dress and the alchemy bag AND the leafy mossy crown ugh she’s so ✨💅💖🌼🫶🏽

feat. the only opinions who matter the only ones I went out of the way to ss

[lover-also-fighter-also]

This goes well with what I thought out for Jenna. She doesn't immediately jump to conflict, and would rather choose to go the passive aggressive route or the cold shoulder or the ignore them route

[grownups-are-the-real-monsters]

Here are my Top 10 Stephen King books. (Not counting The Dark Tower series) This is subject to change but I think this is pretty locked? Though there were a few I'm sad didn't make the cut (like @ 'Revival'🥰😔).

1. IT

2. Dreamcatcher

3. The Long Walk

4. Cell

5. The Stand

6. Christine

7. Doctor Sleep

8. The Talisman

9. Salem's Lot

10. Duma Key