#the map of love

[therubyreader]

Book Bites: Volume 1

Hello again! I know it's been a while since I’ve written anything in a while, real life has a way of beating you up sometimes, and while I still want to write book reviews, I also know I don’t have the mental capacity to write long reviews like I used to, so I have come up with a compromise! Introducing Book Bites, quick reviews for the books I’ve been reading recently which I will be simultaneously posting on my Goodreads account, they will be spoiler free unless stated otherwise. I also wanted to let you all know I will be switching to tracking books on Storygraph for the coming year, I’ve started posting on there already, so check out the link in my pinned to follow my account! Please let me know what you think and let's get into it!  

The Seventh Veil of Salome – Silvia Moreno-Garcia ☆☆☆☆☆ 

As soon as I heard that Silvia Moreno-Garcia was publishing a new book I had to place a hold on it at my library through Libby. I’m a huge fan of all of Silvia’s writing so I knew that I was going to love this book as soon as I read it, and I was right! This book tells both the story of the biblical Salome, the woman who ordered the head of John the Baptist, Vera Larios, an unknown Mexican actress who somehow managed to land the coveted role of Salome in the movie production set in the golden age of Hollywood, and Nancy Hartley an unsuccessful actress trying to become a star. The way the books is written is extremely unique, there aren’t any chapters just changing points of view between the three women, and bits where it is written like a documentary based on the movie being made in modern day. While this format is a little weird at first, it really lends to the story telling experience and it makes for a beautifully written ending. I absolutely loved going on this journey with all three women, all facing unique hardships and their unified struggle of a woman trying to be successful in a time where men held all the power. If you love historical fiction and are a fan of golden age Hollywood movies, you’ll love this book but be prepared to go on an emotional rollercoaster with each of these characters. 

The Map of Love - Ahdaf Soueif ☆☆☆☆☆ 

This book was recommended to me by one of my dear friends, and since I love making them read books that I loved, it was my turn to return the favor. The book tells the story of a woman, Isabel, who inherits her great-grandmother, Ana's, suitcase full of her writings, and after some guidance from Omar, an Egyptian American man she has fallen in love with, she travels to Egypt to meet Omar’s sister, Amar, to help her unravel Ana’s hundred year old love story. The book switches points of view between Ana’s journey to Egypt from England and her love story with an Egyptian man, Sharif, and Isabel and Amar’s own struggles in the modern day. The point of view shifts a quite jarring at first, it does take a while to get into, but once you do it's such a good way to tell the story of all three women and the political landscapes of their times. It really puts into perspective how Egypt is such an old country as there is common locations across those hundred years as well as common problems, namely the situation in Palestine which we are still living through twenty-five years after the book was published. I absolutely loved this look into the late-Victorian era and early Edwardian in a country outside the US and UK, though the story is greatly influenced by both. If you want to read some more diverse historical fiction and have the patience for a long and dense book, then I highly recommend this one. 

The Honey Witch - Sydney J. Shields ☆☆☆★★ 

I was once again influenced by TikTok and their rave reviews about this book and decided to check it out at my library. This book is about 21-year-old Marigold Claude, a high society outcast and soon to be spinster who is whisked away by her grandmother to a magical island after finding out that she is the next Honey Witch meant to protect the island, its magical inhabitants, and the people of the nearby town, all while grappling with a curse that prevents her from falling in love and a brewing evil. I was promised by the people of TikTok a witchy sapphic romance and it unfortunately underdelivered, the book took too long establishing the world and magic system, and once things started to get into motion each plot point was connected to the next with very flimsy strings and everything felt super circumstantial and forced. The life altering evil was over and done with in fewer book pages than I would’ve liked, and the romance was written like a bad Wattpad story from 2012. I did give it three stars because I thought all the characters were very compelling, though victims of a subpar story, and the world and magic system that was very well thought out. Honestly, not a bad book, but if you want to read it, I recommend keeping your expectations lower so as to not be disappointed. 

[potofsoup]

Oh look, it seems like there's a Republican-led movement to purge voter rolls in the lead-up to the election! It's almost as if your vote matters and they don't want you to vote! Anyway, I whipped up a quick map (based on this) that shows when the voter registration deadline is in each state. There are a few deadlines coming up in the next week or so.

If you live in a state that regularly purges voter rolls for infrequent voters (the orange ones in the first map), or if you moved recently, it's good to check if you're still registered to vote.

Vote.org makes it super easy to check your registration: https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/

Just put in your address and DOB and they'll tell you whether you're registered. (And they give you a quick link to register online if it turns out that you're not! Only the 9 states in white on my map don't have online registration, and for those they provide instructions on how to do it via mail or in person.) If you want an extra verification, find your state's election website and double-check there.

So yeah, give yourself peace of mind -- do a quick check. :)

[legendarycollectiveflower]

Two types of people on Queering the map:

[archivegeo]

take a jacket just in case

[sweetmapple]

Viktor and Jinx team-up would be goated, but alternatively...

[damnyoucully]

Nine names for love, from Egyptian author, journalist, and activist Adhaf Soueif

[nidbaesenpai]

i kept thinking about the party as wizard of oz cast and slammed it together with Halloween cheer. Does Dormont celebrate Halloween??? probably not but i love it so

[ultravioletbrit]

“train” - Jegulus microfic - @into-the-jeggyverse - 336 words

James has his arms around Regulus’ waist and he’s slowly kissing his cheeks, his forehead, his lips, his nose.

“James.”

“Yes, love?”

More kisses.

“James.” Regulus says with a small laugh.

“Mmm hmm?” James doesn’t stop his kisses.

“James, I have to go, or the train will leave without me.” Regulus says, but makes no attempt to pull away.

“Good.”

“James.”

“Don’t go. I’m going to miss you too much.” James pouts.

“You want me to skip my last year because you’re going to miss me too much?” Regulus asks.

“Yes. I’m glad we’re finally on the same page.” James goes back to his kisses.

“James.” Regulus says one last time. James sighs and stops his kissing but doesn’t let go of Regulus’ waist. “We’re going to write all the time. I’m going to see you in Hogsmeade in two months. You’re going to come to all my matches–”

“I know. But it’s not the same.” James says in a sincere tone as he tucks a curl behind Regulus’ ear.

“I know. But it’s not going to be the same for me either. Without you there. In that big castle. So cold and drafty, and no one to keep me warm.” Regulus smirks.

“What are you doing to me?” James groans and drops his forehead on Regulus’ and Regulus chuckles.

“It’s not that long and it’s going to fly by.” Regulus tells him.

“Okay.” James says softly and loosens his grip. “I love you.” James leans down and kisses Regulus.

“I love you, too.” Regulus whispers.

Regulus turns and walks towards the train but just before he steps on, he turns and runs back to James, practically jumping into his arms. He wraps his arms around James’ neck and pulls him in for a more passionate kiss.

“And I’m going to miss you so much.” Regulus says against his lips, and he can feel James smiling.

“I’m going to miss you, too.” James tells him and kisses him one more time. “Now, go or the train will leave without you.”    

[foreversagacious]

forgot dirks stupid shades… sorry for the repost

[egophiliac]

Since book 7 part 5 (the part where we meet Meleanor/Maleanor 👀) is coming to EN this month, i would love to see your take on lilia’s proposal to meleanor! i mean they were like little kids right? it couldn’t have been that serious…i think the only reason she even brought it up again is because she could tell lilia still genuinely loved her…(even if he didn’t realize it himself?) but, oh well! Let’s think about silly childhood shenanigans to numb the pain! ^_^ (orz)

oh shit?! get ready for a doozy guys, it's comiiiiiing ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

I chickened out of posting the whole thing (look, I get VERY carried away when it comes to these wacky kids and their Tragedy), but I do believe that it probably ended with Lilia getting embarrassed and just shoving the first thing he sees into his mouth to try and cover for it.

(we're just lucky it wasn't a frog this time)

[critterbitter]

Tis the season on Twist Mountain! Elesa, from Sinnoh, happily tromps around in the cold. Emmet remains undefeated champion of snowball fights. Ingo shivers his way across the clearing.

Look at em go!

Masterpost for more pokemon!

[lucabyte]

siffrin starts the game with oddly empty pockets for a rogue who has a habit of stashing away every little trinket that isn't nailed down

and a hardy pocketwatch is an indispensable tool for oceanic navigation

[cinnamonbvnxx]

farcille and the queef jerky shirt that i have. It’s so them

[mipexch]

i love animating these little freaks

[kiruyeen]

"does anyone else feel like theyre being watched?"

the surreptitious ghostface:

[heartorbit]

the narcissist fools himself