#these are the books that kickstarted that and they are so dear to me

[myteastainedpages]

have suddenly been filled with a burning desire to reread the old books i loved as a child (a little princess - that one above all -, the secret garden, pollyanna...) and also hetty feather (largely bc i wanna see what i think of it now as an adult who knows more about that era than i did at the time, i have no memory of how accurate/inaccurate it is)

[motziedapul]

SUPPORT A QUEER FILIPINO ANIMATED FILM! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇭

Do you wanna see more queer and trans animated films, especially from Filipino creators?

If you're following me I assume you do, so:

CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING ANIMATED FILM BY MY DEAR FRIEND AVID!

@misteravid

Zsazsa Zaturnnah is a Filipino icon; a queer comic book superhero who's spawned many franchises, including TV shows, films, and even a musical.

The original comics are by the legendary Carlo Vergara!

A shy gay male*** salon worker named Ada finds a magic stone and eats it, transforming into the bombastic bodacious superwoman Zaturnnah.

With her newfound superpowers, Zsazsa fights against the alien Amazonistas and their many monsters, from giant chickens to zombies.

It's a comedic, action-packed, heartfelt film from the wonderful and talented Animators in the Philippines, who've been animating American cartoons for years, but rarely get to tell our own stories.

***This would take a longer discussion about queerness in the Philippines, but there's a lot of overlap between gay men, transwomen, and drag queens in the Philippines, under the term "bakla". Very often, this identity is attached to an expression of femininity by someone assigned male at birth. Because pronouns are not gendered in the Philippines, whether someone sees themselves as gay, trans, nonbinary, etc, is up to the person, even if they're all "bakla". Ada is, in international discussions, referred to as a gay man; but it's important to note he shows an adoration for his feminine body as Zsa zsa that may resonate with transfem readers. I'll continue to refer to Ada as "he" and Zsazsa as "she", but it's important to note that this is due to the gendered nature of discussing this in English, and culturally, there are nuances in the Philippines around the fluidity of gender as a result of our non-gendered pronouns. Thank you!

THE FUNDRAISER IS SO CLOSE TO THEIR GOAL WITH ONLY 16 DAYS TO GO, SO PLEASE SUPPORT IT AND SPREAD IT AROUND!

For the sake of Filipino animation, for the sake of international, Asian, Pinoy queer rep, and for the sake of longtime fans like myself: HELP US MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

✨SUPPORT IT ON KICKSTARTER HERE✨

[generalsmemories]

hello jing yuan's wife!! congrats on 1k followers! you very much deserved it 😊 may i please request for jing yuan with angst scenario #5? thank you in advance!

Stubbornness

✧ jing yuan x gn!reader

✧ prompt used: needing to go to an event after a party and having to pretend as if they aren’t angry with one another the entire time || 1k event

✧ contents: established relationship, hurt/comfort, alcohol consumption, arguments cause yeehaw, however happy ending cause they are functioning adults, mentions of other characters

✧ a/n: the amount of times ya'll have called me jing yuan's wife at this point HAHAH. anyway! first drabble to kickstart the 1k event is a sort of angsty one because why not but ya'll remember that one book where the sanctus medicus had 5 operations to try and get rid of jing yuan? yeah have that back in mind. - also not beta-read but who is surprised at this point LMFAO

"... You could've died."

Jing Yuan snorts, adjusting the bracers on his forearms without even sparing you a glance, "But I'm here right now breathing, aren't I?" he quips back instead, almost sounding amused at your worry.

It infuriates you. It baffles you how little he truly cared about the situation and at the severity of it. The hair you had for once tried to style already messy by the amount of times you've ran a hand through it out of stress or frustration the past two hours.

You're so glad you made Yanqing leave earlier to assist where it was necessary.

"Do you honestly see this as a mere joke, Jing Yuan?" you sneer, arms crossed whilst leaning one side against the doorframe. He must already know what you're referring to, being that you had finally opened the report handed to you from today - a report telling that there was yet another attempt on his life.

Another attempt that he didn't want to tell you about.

"Quite the contrary," he says, turning around to finally face you. His smile is still present on his lips which only serves to make you more agitated, "Nothing happened as you can see, and I'm perfectly fine. As such I didn't see the need to tell you about it because nothing happened. I wasn't even at the Artisanship Commission like they thought-"

"Because you got delayed."

He sighs, crossing his arms as well and cocking his head to the side, "Dear, with the amount you're worrying about me it makes me believe you have no trust in my capabilities to protect myself. Am I right to assume that?" he questions, his smile fading a bit after he had asked.

"Where the hell did you even get that from- Can I not worry about my lovers safety even when I'm aware of his swordmanship?" you ask, clicking your tongue whilst running yet another hand through your strands.

"And I'm telling you that it is a needless worry-"

"You're fucking unbelievable," you scoff, turning around to head for the entrance of your home, Jing Yuan quirking an eyebrow at your retreating form, "Oh? You're not going to nag at me further?" he asks, his tone may be lighthearted, but even you can pick out the slight bite it has to it.

"Even looking at you right now makes me want to punch you. The fact that you can't even see where I'm coming from is unbelievable enough, so fine! I won't worry more about our dear general," you bite back, slamming the door shut once you're at the other side.

You can come up with an excuse as to why the two of you arrive separately - it wouldn't be the first time after all.

"You must be quite delighted that the expedition finished earlier than planned, right [Name]?" Master Gongshu asks, handing you a glass and immediately clinking his own against it before taking a sip, "Even the tiny lieutenant made more of a name to himself out there."

You snicker, swirling the contents of the drink before you, stealing a brief glance over at Jing Yuan who is surrounded himself, "Indeed, I'm quite relieved to see him and Yanqing safely return to the Luofu."

Even though there was immediately another attempt on his life the moment he stepped one foot back onboard.

"But say, aren't you a bit saddened that the general haven't been by your side as much today? He's practically surrounded by the other commissioners and knights," master Gongshu points out, to which you only shake your head, "Why of course not, as long as I know that my husband is safe - I wouldn't have to worry about anything," you say - a bit louder than needed.

You know Jing Yuan heard you.

He kept his attention solely on the people before him though, not even sparing you a glance.

The sight makes you let out another loud sigh, bringing the glass to your lips only to immediately drink it in one gulp, Master Gongshu snickering beside you while calling another waiter over, "Oho, I see you're rearing to go so early! This is indeed what a celebration feast is about!" Master Gonshu roars, his laughter having been a bit too loud to attract the attention of other people, who merely snickered at his own energy.

Jing Yuan only narrowed his eyes, eyebrows furrowing in displeasure at your comment. It seems like you still haven't cooled down. But as soon as he heard his name get called, he was all smiles again, "Aren't you worried that [Name] is going to drink too much, general?" a solider jokingly asked, raising his own glass to have a toast with the general. Jing Yuan merely let out a low chuckle, "Of course not, and even if they were to, I'm here to take care of them."

At this point, the master diviner had made herself to your side with a few snacks - just in time to see your expression twist for a split second upon hearing what Jing Yuan said, letting out a laugh yourself, "Oh, don't worry dear. I know how to take care of myself, so there's no need for you to needlessly worry like this!"

She can practically sense the animosity between you two that no one else in the room has apparently picked up on.

But Fu Xuan does admit that seeing Jing Yuan's perfectly crafted smile twitch a bit in annoyance while his eyebrows furrowed a tiny bit did bring her satisfaction - a taste of his own medicine.

So while master Gongshu have wandered off to get a refill, she makes her way over to you with a raised eyebrow, "Trouble in paradise?" she asks lowly, you merely huff in return - turning around to lean on the fence, staring at the various starskiffs in the air, "... No."

"I applaud you for still wanting to lie in front of me," Fu Xuan comments, placing the tray of various snacks beside you for your perusal - you don't grab anything, already lost in thought.

"Is it a needless worry?" you end up asking, Fu Xuan having leaned against the fence herself while having her body turned to face you, "About what? His safety? Yes and no."

"Gee, that helps a lot."

"He's a general, [Name]. An attempt on his life is unfortunately common sense, moreso at this time too being that he had just returned from an expedition and would be by some standards - exhausted and have his senses dulled."

"So why-"

"But it's also because he is a general that precautions are taken. Even if he got delayed or not before coming to the Artisanship Commission, the Cloud Knights stationed had already intercepted the attempt - he would've still been safe."

You bite your tongue to prevent yourself from blurting anything more. In hindsight you were perfectly aware that Jing Yuan would be fine - but you're pretty sure there's not a single lover out there who would not worry about their own husbands' safety if his head had once again been targeted - even if it had been yet another failed attempt.

Before you can admit your wrongdoings to Fu Xuan, you feel an arm slither around your waist - delicate lips pressing against your temple, and from the faint breath Jing Yuan lets out, you can tell he's had a few more to drink than you in the span of your conversation with Fu Xuan.

"... I thought you didn't like to drink that much," you say softly, turning around in his hold only to be met with a smile, "And I thought you weren't going to speak to me?" he whispers back. You merely huff and let his head fall down to your shoulder, sending Fu Xuan a pleading gaze to which she immediately gets without you needing to say anything more - walking over to the crowd of onlookers to step in for both you and Jing Yuan.

"I am still mad," you finally utter after a few minutes of silence between the two of you.

"Whatever can I do to make my beloved not mad at me then?" he asks back in a whisper, careful to not let anyone else hear the two of you. You can tell from your peripheral vision that he's turned his head to face you, although you keep your gaze facing forward.

"Admit you were wrong," you huff, Jing Yuan letting out a low chuckle at how you're still holding onto that stubborness, "I'm pretty sure I saw that you were about to admit that you were wrong to the master diviner, no?"

You don't answer, merely looking away in a silent defiance. The sight making Jing Yuan sigh in amusement, "Alright, I'm sorry dear. I'll make sure to tell you in the future whenever I feel something amiss," he says in the end - but before you can accept that apology, he quickly adds on.

"In return, I do hope you tell me whenever the disciples also target you."

.... Oh.

"... You know you could've made me inform you in any other way than having us argue?" you state, back to your moody self - the switch in mood making your husband laugh, "Not such a great feeling being left in the dark, is it?" he reminds you - and you hate how effective this sort of method is.

So your only reply is to wrap your arms around his waist, "I'm sorry," You can feel his body shake with laughter, his own arms wrapping around your shoulders before you feel his lips pressing themselves at the top of your head, "Now stop being mad, because these few hours were quite tortuous for me."

"You just say that because I usually do all the talking."

"Precisely."

struggled with that ending for 3 days man.

[goodshipskypirate]

Okay, so I know this is a sketch from Kickstarter showing a small part of the Great Archives, so this is likely more concept than final. What intrigues me is the man in the photo with a sword strapped to his back. Or at least, I originally thought it was a photo before I realized he might just be decoration for the book's cover.

Who is that man? Just a random doodle? Aephorul before the creators' finalized his design? Some other dude that might have been important and recorded into that specific book? Resh'an's first boyfriend during his awkward high school years, Chad, who unironically kissed his arm muscles every morning and smelled of AXE body spray?

Also, dear LORD. Once again, this man is a mess. His chemical properties are dangerously close to these books. This is a fire hazard waiting to happen. Look at that ink pot on top of a piece of paper with a clear blot. He's gonna get ink all over his books! He is absolutely the epitome of The Messy Desk Artist. Resh'an, if you weren't a God who could literally snap your area clean, I would SCREAM.

I am, however, tickled pink, that the sketch has a cup of tea or coffee on the lower right corner. It's just cute, Resh'an taking his caffeine black and getting back to work. He probably doesn't need a caffeine boost, but it probably helps stimulant the brain... and prevents caffeine headache.

[orangepenguino]

Hey Tumblr friends!

Today, my dear friend Kyle Walters has his first board game launching on Kickstarter! He's poured three years of hard work into crafting an incredible board game called Storyburg, and I really hope you'll check it out.

Kickstarter Launch Details

Launch Date: Tuesday, September 19th at 8am Eastern

Kickstarter Link

I playtested the game from its earliest stages and I really, really want it to be a success. What is Storyburg?

Storyburg is an adventure board game that transports you to a world where familiar stories collide. You can step into the shoes of iconic characters like Peter from Peter Pan, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Alice from Alice in Wonderland, or Little Nemo from Little Nemo in Slumberland.

The gameplay combines elements of dungeon-crawlers, deck-building, and choose-your-own-adventure games, ensuring every session is filled with surprises and excitement.

There are over 300 original illustrations Kyle drew for the game! He's spent countless hours researching all elements of game production and design. It's a beautiful piece of work.

To ensure Storyburg's Kickstarter campaign gets off to the best possible start, Kyle has prepared a special Launch Day Deal available today only. Kyle has assured me that it's important to get as many backers as possible in the first 48 hours of the campaign. It makes the algorithms happy! Every backer, no matter the pledge amount, plays a pivotal role in making this dream a reality.

If you're not an avid board gamer or have budget constraints, even a $1 pledge goes a long way in boosting the campaign's visibility and momentum. If your shelves are too full of games and/or you're feeling extra generous, Kyle has partnered with ComicBooks 4 Kids, a charity that provides comic books and other pop culture items to children in hospitals. If you buy a $1 Pledge (or any Pledge Level) and then choose the ComicBooks 4 Kids ADD-ON, a copy of the game will be sent to sick children and teens in hospitals and cancer centers. It's a wonderful way to share the joy of gaming with those who need it most. I'm truly passionate about Storyburg's success. Not only do I want the best for my friend, but I really think it's a great game. Unfortunately, Storyburg only gets made if the Kickstarter is successful. It would mean a lot to me if you consider supporting the campaign, but even spreading the word would be a great help. Your support, whether through pledging or simply spreading the Kickstarter link, contributes to getting this fantastic game out into the world. Thank you for getting this far. I dislike writing marketing posts considerably more than I dislike reading them, so you can safely know that I really and truly think this is a project worth your attention. If you are able, consider supporting this Kickstarter campaign and help bring Storyburg to life! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or want to learn more. Wishing you a wonderful day filled with excitement and adventure! (Or if you prefer, a fun board game with friends and a nice mug of tea.)

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

Catch me in Miami! I'll be at Books and Books in Coral Gables TOMORROW (Jan 22) at 8PM. Berliners: Otherland has added a second date (Jan 28) for my book-talk after the first one sold out - book now!

#20yrsago RIP, Whole Earth Review https://web.archive.org/web/20040202031838/https://www.worldchanging.com/archives/000338.html

#15yrsago Media helped create the financial meltdown https://web.archive.org/web/20090125204013/http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/01/23/the_medias_role_in_the_financial_crisis/

#10yrsago Ukraine government sends text to protesters: “Dear subscriber, you are registered as a participant in a mass disturbance” https://memex.craphound.com/2014/01/23/ukraine-government-sends-text-to-protesters-dear-subscriber-you-are-registered-as-a-participant-in-a-mass-disturbance/

#10yrsago What Makes Jo Walton So Great https://www.tor.com/2014/01/21/what-makes-jo-walton-so-great/

#5yrsago After Net Neutrality repeal, Comcast, Charter and Verizon cut investment in their networks https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/01/sorry-ajit-comcast-lowered-cable-investment-despite-net-neutrality-repeal/

#5yrsago Data-broker implicated in bounty-hunters’ access to mobile location data lobbied FCC to fight consent for sharing location data https://www.vice.com/en/article/vbwgw8/zumigo-phone-location-data-sold-lobbied-fcc-consent

#5yrsago Limits to trickle-down: Trump’s tax-cut “boom” fizzles https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/23/business/investment-boom-tax-cuts-economy/index.html

#5yrsago Corporate America projects giant profits from climate disasters https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-22/muggy-disney-parks-downed-at-t-towers-firms-tally-climate-risk

#5yrsago After six days, LA teachers settle their strike, wringing huge concessions out of the school district https://jacobin.com/2019/01/la-teachers-strike-contract-arlene-inouye/

#5yrsago Winners Take All: the Davos Edition (how elites launder looting with phoney philanthropy) https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jan/22/the-new-elites-phoney-crusade-to-save-the-world-without-changing-anything

#5yrsago How a political outsider’s fundraising tool is helping insurgent, working-class Dems mount primary challenges and campaigns https://theintercept.com/2019/01/23/grassroots-analytics-campaign-donations/

#1yrago Eggflation is just more price-gouging https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/23/cant-make-an-omelet/#keep-calm-and-crack-on

I'm Kickstarting the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There's also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.

[night-market-if]

Hello dear author,

Just wanted to say that I had no idea Milo was a non-monogamous character. Maybe that is on me, maybe you left clues I just missed, who knows. I can be dense, and this is something a bit out of my wheelhouse.

Regardless, I love Milo with all my heart (and I've read chapter 12), and though I love Malcolm's character, I just don't feel any inclination to romance him. So the plan is to let Milo be Milo and just put my faith in your incredible writing skills that we won't end up feeling like an extra that he could take or leave, and that the relationship still feels natural to someone who has no experience with polyamory.

Would this still work if MC remained monogamous? Malcolm is just too level headed and stable for me... now Caliban, if he were an option.. 👀

I do truly love your writing and cannot wait for more.

Okay, so I want to highlight this ask because you, dear anon, have all the love and respect from me right now.

Thank you. I can not state this enough. Thank you. Please have faith that I am not casting the MC aside in that relationship with Milo. This is not about to become the Milo and Mal romance with MC begging for scrapes. You do not have to enter a poly at all and the words "let Milo be Milo" is the perfect way to approach this. I have so many plans for MC and Milo (if you've read chapter 12 you know I'm going to have to) and I do hope that people who do not wish to do the poly route, go into this next book with the mindset that you have.

Essentially, how a route like this is going to look is eventually, Milo and Mal are going to come back together. And when I say eventually, I mean far down the line. Because first and foremost, there are things that need to be addressed with Milo and MC. If you are choosing the non poly route, that coming back together does not even really play out in the story. Milo will talk to the MC so it's not a behind their back thing, but it's not like you are going to be having to read a poly route with a headcannon of monogamous. Essentially, MC knows that there is something between Milo and Mal. They are tender with each other at times. But you better believe I am not going to be writing this thing where MC has to beg for attention. Because that shouldn't happen in ANY relationship.

Also, I may need to clear something up a bit because I do feel like a lot of people are taking this from a very sexual standpoint (in general. This is not directed at you anon). When Milo and Mal do come back together, they are not going to go off and start going at it like bunnies. Malcolm is not super into sex. So, for the asks that have come in about that? I'm hoping that helps a bit.

Thank you so much for having faith in me. I know that this is not what most people had hoped for when they started this game but knowing that you all can look at this and trust that I'm not going to do you wrong? It's an amazing feeling.

🪷✨🪷✨ If you want to support me 🪷 ✨🪷✨ 

Demo 🌿 Patreon 🌿 Ko-fi 🌿Discord🌿Kickstarter

[bracketsoffear]

Piranesi (Susanna Clarke) "Piranesi lives in a place called the House, a world composed of infinite halls and vestibules lined with statues, no two of which are alike. The upper level of the House is filled with clouds, and the lower level with an ocean, which occasionally surges into the middle level following tidal patterns that Piranesi meticulously tracks. He believes he has always lived in the House, and that there are only fifteen people in the world, all but two of whom are long-dead skeletons. The status that decorate the halls and walls of the House are all gigantic and the halls themself are immense and bigger than what any human would be able to build on their own."

Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters (ed. Tim Marquitz and Nickolas Sharps) "From the forward: "Enter Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters. This collection of Kaiju shorts continues the traditions begun by Kaiju pioneers, bringing tales of destruction, hope and morality in the form of giant, city destroying monsters. Even better, the project was funded by Kickstarter, which means you, Dear Reader, made this book possible. And that is a beautiful thing. It means Kaiju, in pop-fiction, are not only alive and well, they’re stomping their way back into the spotlight, where they belong. Featuring amazing artwork, stories from some of the best monster writers around and a publishing team that has impressed me from the beginning, Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters is a welcome addition to the Kaiju genre and an anthology of epic proportions. My inner nine-year-old is shouting at me to shut-up and let you get to the Kaiju. So, without further delay, let’s all enjoy us some Kaiju Rising."

Notable for the fact the majority of the stories within are downer-ending horror short-stories versus more upbeat monster-fighting ones. Several also tackle concepts of an unstoppable, implacable force, themes of religious horror, and other Vast-aligned concepts."

[sophiesbookishthings]

July Reads

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

I read this like 2 days before the allegations against Neil Gaiman came out 🫤. And since now it feels too weird to talk too much about anything regarding him right now, I'm not gonna fully review this book. I considered not putting this here at all, but I want an honest chronicle of the books I've read. And I feel like this little non-review isnt gonna cause anyone to go read his books or support him in any way. So, I will just say that I did enjoy this book, and it's one of my favorites I've read from him, but I'll leave it at that.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Pale Dreamer by Samantha Shannon

This is a little prequel novella to The Bone Season. I enjoyed seeing the dynamic of Paige and her seven dials gang before she gets thrown into the whole main plot of the series. It also gives a bit of interesting insight into why she and the other 6 act the way they do in The Bone Season.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Bone Season (author's preferred text) by Samantha Shannon

This is a really interesting dystopian book. This is the first book in a seven book series and I'm intrigued to see where it goes. The main character Paige has really interesting psychic powers that I think are going to get really badass as the series goes on. There's also the rephaim and I really want to know more about their whole thing. Can't wait to keep reading these. I went and got the authors preferred text editions when they came out cause Samantha Shannon is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

I got an absolutely gorgeous edition of this book from litjoy, and I think I read it like a day or two after I got it in the mail. I remember watching the movie when I was a kid, but I'd never read the book. Sometimes, it's better to watch the movie first, I think. Because I liked the movie, but it's not a lot like the book, and had I known that I probably would've liked the movie less. Anyway! I loved the love story in this book. Ella and Char match each other’s energy and quirkiness so perfectly. And the fantasy element of the book is really cool. There's centaurs, fairies, giants, and elves, and the way they were done felt like an old fairy tale, which I feel like doesn't get done too much anymore.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

I'm going to do a single review for these two novellas because I basically read them as one continuous book and I don't know how well I can deferentiate between the events that occur in each one. This book is very philosophical but also very cozy and sweet. There were some ideas and quotes in these two books that I will probably be thinking about for a long time. The friendship between the main characters (a tea monk and a robot) was incredibly well done and I really liked both of them. These books ultimately hold such kindness at their heart and I think we need more of that. I highly recommend these books.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Secrets of Blackthorn Hall by Cassandra Clare

I read this before when it was being released on tumblr but I received the Kickstarter hardback edition and it's absolutely gorgeous. Shadowhunters is always a comfort series to me, especially anything involving the Blackthorns and Malec.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson

As per the Stormlight Archive, so much happened in this book, dear lord... So much happened in the last like 300ish pages alone (which i guess is the length of a normal book). This is also the longest book I've ever read, so that's fun. For a lot of this book, I was really thinking that Kaladin/Shallan/Adolin all have two hands, and Sanderson should stop being a coward lol. But anyway... I loved reading from the perspective of bridge 4 through the book and seeing what they're doing outside of kaladin. I need to know more about like all of the singers because I've been lowkey rooting for them since the first book. Which is really a testament to Sanderson's writing because I could tell that they really weren't the bad guys, and that there was something deeper going on, and some of that was revealed in this book.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chlorine by Jade Song

I didn't love this book. I think it was the fact I really didn't like a single one of the characters and there was very little dialog to the point it almost felt just like stating of events and the narrators (usually all negative) feelings about the events and the people involved. I will give it that it had the first scene I've ever read to make me actually physically uncomfortable. It was gay but in a very messy pining way that never really felt like it went anywhere. I think that there are people that would really like this book cause it did have potential, but it just didn't worj for me. I will admit I have been thinking about it a lot, though, so there's that anyway.

3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I haven't watched the Amazon series of this, and I'm mad that they changed the songs for it from the ones in the book. I wanted to listen to those ☹️. I feel like I shouldn't like that it was so obviously based on Fleetwood Mac, but I kinda did. I've always found their whole extremely messy deal fascinating, and this was basically the fictional version of that.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

This was really interesting to read after having read the whole lotr trilogy first. This reads like a children's book (because it is) which was a bit surprising because of the much different tone I was expecting after lotr and the Hobbit movies. Also, it basically says the elves are fae. It refers to the Undying Lands as Faerie. Why do people not talk about that more??? It makes so much sense. They act like fae. They're whole vibe and lore is so fae like. It makes sense. Regular elves are little guys! Tolkien elves are fae! Anyway, lol, I really liked this book. I do think I liked lotr more just cause I love books/series that are lore heavy and also Samwise Gamgee.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[edwinspaynes]

Hey hey hey Shadowhunter’s It-Girl (yes i meant it, when i said you ARE the it queeen)

RE Feel good vibes!

OMG just readingggg through your wonderful message and how deliciously indulgent your replies are gave me mad feel good vibes and made me want to bedoink a hammer on my head for not doing it sooner!!!!

I am so glad to hear you’re visiting Japan! What prompted you to want to go there? Like walk me through that brain thought 😊.

Re Dead Boy Detectives!

I am veryyyy aware of your love for Dead Boy Detectives! I love how much you love them! And massive fingers crossed that it gets renewed for a season 2! I know on the ends of comics (non exclusive to just the Dead Boys ongoing but also Fables, Sandman essentially everything that ISN’T batman or a superhero comic) tends to be very much on the ‘unlikely to get a run’ so i’m always fingers crossed. YK? CUZ I GET IT.

Re Book recs

Thank you sooooo much for the lovely book recs! Even if their random if you have more please let me know them! And who/and what do you think a shadowhunter character would react while reading it, or if they would reccomend it to another internally? 🤭

Re Matthewwwwwwwwww

Also a bit of a, in medias reas inserted ask- If TMI is fall, and TID is winter, and TDA is Summer… what do you think is the most appropriate synergistic time to read/reread TLH? Wicked Powers does give me for some reason Spring vibes. But maybe it will be Summer cuz Los Angeles and all… ANYWAY would love to know your thoughts on that!

And OMG, LOVEEEE That Matthew is with his golden retirever! have you managed to sus out from easter egg droppings any intel on his ship? If its a she…? or him… or they.?

Re Asking the It-Girl of Shadowhunters to potentially give me the low down of what i have missed from the fandom these past two-three months i have been away!

I really am soooo out of the loop on all recent happenings and shiftings and lurkings in the fandom? Have there been any? Any new releases? Any new CC updates?

Have you bought anything new shadowhunter related? Like either in terms of art… or memorabilia?

Finally, my kickstarter box hasn’t been shipped either girlie! I am right there with you!!!!! I am not really that mad because I feel like i know this might sound weird, but even from my hiatus of Shadowhunters i still felt really well fed with all the lovely bonus chapters you always post! I loveddd two days ago the newly posted James and Cordelia’s Primemark Adventure bonus chap for example. It just REALLY Just is so well written AND it always satiates that era and time period of London so deeply!

Cheers to more ❤️‍🔥🌈🌈🌈🤗

JAPAN! So one of my best friends lives there. She's dear to me. I'm visiting her! But also, I've wanted to go to Japan since I was a little kid because I grew up in a Japanese language/culture immersion program. So this is like, a lifelong dream coming true!

I'm going to do TSC blorbo book recs in another post :) Just for you!

Honestly, TLH is always going to give me spring vibes. (Oddly, this is probably my strongest time-of-the-year TSC association - it's just such a gentle and comforting series, like a breezy spring day with flowers blooming after the frost is gone for the year.) I associate it from start to finish with light academia pastel vibes and dewy flowers, and the end of ChoT is New Beginnings incarnate.

Here's a recent commission I bought that reflects the Vibe of TLH for me! It's on my wall now. :)

But yes, agree that TID is winter (for Wessa proposal lmao) and that TMI is fall based on Vibes. Not sure about TWP yet since I've only read the first chapter, I'll wait and see what I think when it comes out!

Re: Matthew ship! We got a snippet (now on Cassie's Tumblr) that brought up a young man named Sylvain Allard. I thought from Moment 1 that he was probably Matthew's love interest.

Catching Up With the Fandom.

Some stuff you may have missed!

Matthew snippets one and two. three. The novella is called A Sea Change! Matthew art is what I showed you before.

The Matthew sticker was accidentally excluded from the first KS box, so he will be arriving fashionably late in the same box as his novella.

The Thomas journal is unfortunately paperback rather than hardback as advertised. This has disappointed me, but it's okay.

I assume you got the Better in Black list, but if not, it's Wessa, Herondaisy, Thomastair, Arianna, Clace, Sizzy, Sebastian/Seelie Queen, Luke/Jocelyn, Blackstairs, and Kierarktina.

First chapter of TWP has been making the rounds via DM, I have indeed read it. It met my expectations. Let me know if you want me to DM it to you.

Anddd....

I'm so glad that you have been enjoying my "bonus chapters!" I hope to have one I'm currently working on up in a couple of days. We shall see. :)

I'm not upset that my box hasn't shipped, there are four (4) people shipping out like 10,000 boxes. It's gonna take a while, and it's okay. I'll be happy when it gets here!

[ultfreakme]

Who are your favorite romantic relationship's couples in books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series (can be canon or non-canon)? Feel free if you want to write the reasons or not of why you love them...

Sorry if you've answered this question before......Thanks....

Hi Anon!! Hope you're doing well! OOOOH this is a tough one, I have so many ships I enjoy, I think I change pairings and find new ones every few months. But if I had to pick........

AkaFuri (Akashi x Furihata from Kuroko No Basuke): I've shipped them the longest, I'm pretty sure my writing got better through writing and researching for fics of the ship. I also transitioned from traditional to digital drawing through drawing this ship, so yay it's them! I love them because Furihata was someone Akashi and everyone underestimated but Furihata defied everyone's expectations, conquered his fears and managed to stand up against him. Kuroko and the Seirin basketball team changed Akashi's opinions and made him see everyone as equals, but Furihata sorta kickstarted that.

ItaJun (Itadori x Junpei from Jujutsu Kaisen): I actually shipped them back when JJK was first airing! So that's three years with them dear god. I made a post about them but to summarize, I love the potential they had & loved how they clicked together!

Zukka (Zuko x Sokka from Avatar The Last Airbender): This one's relatively new but they got me obsessed enough to write a 300k word for for them and made me go on an unstoppable and frankly unhealthy drawing spree for months (I have a callous on my hand...unsure if it's because of just them but they definitely didn't help). I love their dynamic, they play off each other well, make up for each other's weaknesses and their interactions are always funny to watch. They're very cute to me.

JonJay/JayJon (Jon Kent x Jay Nakamura from DC Comics): A CANON COUPLE!!! They're very adorable and I enjoyed watching the way they helped each other get to their goals in their introduction comic as a couple(Superman Son of Kal El). Watching Superman be bi and have an Asian bf was just, very inspiring. The way Jon's heroism and ideals are defined by Jay's ideals is so cool.

I have a lot more which I can put as honorable mentions: Korrasami (The Legend of Korra), SatoSugu(Jujutsu Kaisen), Stucky (the Captain America Trilogy was awesome and the only part I like from the MCU), KiriBaku(I think I'm pretty much over them now unless I get back into BNHA), Calliette(bring back First Kill please please PLEASE), XiCheng(Jiang Cheng x Lan Xichen from MDZS), BingQiu & MoShang (both from Scum Villain Self-Saving system).

These are the ones I remember. There's probably some crucial formative ship for me that I'm missing but rn I think this is it.

My qualifications for being obsessed with a ship are:

HAS to be gay

They should be complementary in some way

The franchise they come from needs to have a plot that isn't their relationship, but their relationship, or just the character's motivation is sorta woven into the overarching theme of the story. Example; In AkaFuri, Furihata is instrumental in defeating Akashi and his team because Furihata isn't there to exactly take down Akashi. He CAN'T. But if he works with everyone else on his team, he stands a chance and can make a difference. The ultimate theme of KNB is that we should value friendship, teammates and should lift each other up rather than view the world as enemies to defeat. Korra and Asami are seemingly polar opposite with Korra being a representative of spirits while Asami is a representative of human technological advancement. TLOK is about harmony between these two aspects of the world, and Korrasami's relationship is a representation of that. I think pretty much all my ships can work like that (Jiang Cheng is too cynical, never lets anyone close and is prone to conflict, Lan Xichen is too trusting and too complicit, never wanting conflict and therefore not really confronting anything and BOTH of these flaws of theirs are to their detriment, etc etc).

I think I like ships which I can use to examine the themes of the main story, and see how the union of two people could influence the meaning of the canon.

And, I'll be honest, it's also about how aesthetic they are together and how good the smut potential is. It's shipping in the end, and I can write thousand-word meta essays but also be going gaga over their smut lmao.

Hope this was an adequate reply!! Also please don't apologize, I hadn't answered this before I think? haha i keep forgetting what i write.

[warp-factor-69]

Papa III is the False Prophet of Revelation: a Theory

hear me out guys

To preface, I would like to just say that I am, in fact, very new to Ghost. It’s entirely possible that what I have to say is old news. If that’s the case, let me know and I will retreat into my corner of shame and remain there for eternity. If not, let me know if there’s anything you think I missed! I haven’t done any particularly exhaustive research here, but I got severely baked the other day and haven’t been able to stop thinking about this.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Meliora and Era 3 in general, and I’ve come to some interesting conclusions. There are a lot of layers here, so bear with me while I try to unpack everything in a concise way. This theory involves not only lyric analysis, but also a discussion of details from more visual things like music videos. I guess it also involves a discussion of the Bible, too.

Basically, Terzo is the False Prophet from the Book of Revelation, and he consciously foreshadows his own demise throughout Era 3. This has important implications for what’s to come.

Take notes, this will be on the exam.

First, let’s talk about Meliora. From Latin, this translates to “the pursuit of something better.” This, in and of itself, fits Terzo’s character perfectly. He takes the band to new heights in Era 3, earning them accolades like the Grammy. However, he also strays from the mission the Clergy has charged him with. This is evident in the album covers for Popestar and Ceremony and Devotion, which feature him (and his dick in the latter case) front and center. Although the covers for Opus Eponymous and Infestissumam show men in Papal attire, neither of them are immediately recognizable as Primo or Secondo. This, combined with Terzo frequently forgoing his robes and mitre on stage, implies that spreading the word of Satan is no longer his main priority. This is more or less confirmed in “The Summoning V: The Square and Hammer,” when Sister Imperator yells at the band for dicking around. 

In essence, Terzo gets too big for his britches, so the Clergy (i.e. Sister Imperator) decides to take him out.

This theme of arrogance, of getting too close to the sun and being struck down for it, appears a lot in Meliora. What follows is a discussion of what I personally think are the most important instances of this. (Note: for this entire analysis, I will be using the deluxe version of this album, which includes the Popestar EP.)

“From the Pinnacle to the Pit” - Very clearly about falling from grace. There’s a lot of imagery related to pride, such as the crown, the scepter, and the gown mentioned in the first verse. It also references Judeo-Christian mythology, as pride was what got Lucifer cast out of Heaven. This story is heavily referenced, particularly by “you are cast out from the heavens to the ground / blackened feathers falling down.” Where I especially think this relates to Terzo is “you will wear your independence like a crown.” In trying to break away from the hold the Ministry has on him and be his own act, he is shot down.

“Absolution” - Also about pride, but in the sense of material wealth. Our dear friend Tobias Forge has been quoted saying the song is “a lament of the modern woman or man, who spend their lives thinking that their possessions have that ‘something else’ that allows them to be above any responsibility.” In the case of Terzo, I don’t think it’s physical possessions, rather his status as a rockstar. In pursuing fame, perhaps he is attempting to shirk off his duty to the Clergy/The Dark One. The first two verses of the song also describe someone who is constantly trying to be on top (someone in “the pursuit of something better,” we could say). I also think it’s interesting to note how this song kickstarted the Meliora project. :)

“Bible” - An absolute banger, although an interesting choice for a cover. I say this because it references Biblical subject matter without talking about Satan at all. For as much as I admire and respect Mr. Forge, I do not trust him. I know in my heart of hearts that this song was chosen for a reason (to fuck with people like me who think into things too deeply). Looking at the second verse, the lyrics describe how humanity expanded and developed, to the point where they could no longer hear the voice of God. As a result, God sent in the flood and destroyed them all (although we can assume Noah and co. survived). Here, again, we have themes of arrogance, humanity overstepping its boundaries, disconnecting with the spiritual, and paying the price for it. By now, this should make all of us think of Papa III.

So, although not the #1 theme in this album, we can see a distinct pattern here. To boot, this is a pattern that very closely mirrors what happens to our boy Terzo. He aspires to be something greater than he is, and as he keeps climbing, he eventually crosses the line. This culminates during the final performance at Liseberg, where he is literally dragged down off of a platform and taken away.

“But, Allison,” I hear you saying. “That doesn’t necessarily mean Terzo is a prophet.”

To which I respond:

“Spirit” is a sexy little number about absinthe. It’s great. I love it. It’s also very important to my theory.

Looking at the lyrics, this song praises the alleged hallucinogenic properties of the drink. Under the influence, the narrator (Terzo) has visions of demons and Hell. What really suggests to me that he’s having/has had some sort of prophetic experience is the outro: “let none of this earth inherit / this vision of my spirit.” This, interestingly, is a reference to “Imitation” by Edgar Allen Poe, a poem in which the narrator reflects upon his childhood dreams and aspirations, “visions” of the future.

The placement of this song at the beginning of the tracklist is also quite conspicuous to me. It basically establishes off the bat that Terzo can see things others cannot. This is him (not so) subtly telling us that he knows his fate, wether that be through the assistance of absinthe or something else entirely.

If we choose to believe that Terzo has prophetic abilities of some kind, several details from Era 3 content gain a new significance.

#1 - The Fit

As people have previously pointed out, the casual suit worn by Papa III is inspired by Gustav III, the king of Sweden from 1771 to 1792.

In addition to the similar style of dress, and the fact that both men are the third of their name, both were also assassinated. What a crazy coincidence!!!!

#2 - Rectangular Pounding Implement

The most well known allusion to a future event is in the “Square Hammer” music video. There is brief shot of a gravestone on which a cardinal is perched, a clear reference to introduction of Cardinal Copia.

The plot of the video itself also reinforces Terzo being a prophet. In the silent movie, he plays the “mysterious specter” who guides the protagonist to the Square Hammer. After taking the item in hand, Terzo tells him the following:

Destiny, you say? Sounds an awful lot like there’s a prophecy involved.

I think that both of these things, the costume and the music video, were conscious choices Terzo made. Although it’s unclear how much creative liberty the Papas really have, the Third doesn’t seem to care about what the Clergy thinks or wants. If nothing else, we can at the very least say that the suit was likely his own choice. It’s an odd that he chose to reference Swedish history, considering as he is (presumably) an Italian man, so I think we have to assume the choice was deliberate.

Surely, the gift of prophecy gives one an incredible strategic advantage. If Terzo knew, then, that the Clergy was going to assassinate him and his brothers, why didn’t he thwart their plans?

We’ll get to that, homies and loved ones. Right now, it’s time to talk about the elephant in the room.

Did Prequelle predict COVID?

Unless Forge comes out and claims it did (which I doubt he would, as it would be terribly disrespectful to... everyone), we have to assume that the answer is no. Although the Ghost brand incorporates live elements into their storytelling, making the experience more immersive, it is important that we all take a step back and remember that the lore is a work of fiction. In the process of plot development, certain decisions have to be made by the author(s) that impact the final narrative. All of these details we’ve talked about, from the lyrics to the bird in the music video, were pre-planned by Forge et al. We were meant to notice these things, as they’re part of the official canon. I know I said earlier that I don’t trust Tobias, but I’m ten thousand percent certain he didn’t plan for COVID to happen. By that logic, this would make the Prequelle/COVID thing a mere coincidence and therefore not technically part of the canon.

I’m exhausted and I think I’m losing my mind at this point, so I can’t come up with an effective segue. I have finals coming up, and I have not studied for them. A 41 year old Swedish man lives in my brain rent free. My life is in shambles.

Buckle up everybody, it’s time to talk about the Bible!

In the Book of Revelation, the End Times are brought on by the “Unholy Trinity.” The direct opposite of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, this trio consists of Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet. The role of the False Prophet is to lead the people into the worship of Satan, basically setting the stage for the rule of the Antichrist. I’ve seen some interpretations of Revelation where the False Prophet and the Antichrist are one in the same, but the invocation in “Con Clavi Con Dio,” suggests the presence of a trinity (”Sathanas / we are one / out of three / Trinity”), so I’m sticking with this.

As the False Prophet, Terzo does one Hell of a good job (pun intended) gathering the followers of Satan. As previously mentioned, he takes Ghost to new heights, where the band is recognized on a more mainstream level (i.e. the Grammy’s). The popularity of the band grew at an unprecedented rate during his reign.

His role as the False Prophet makes a lot of sense when we consider one of the main themes of Meliora, the absence of God. The premise of the album, as Forge has said, is basically the Clergy/Ministry coming in and filling this spiritual void. This is why we have songs like “Cirice,” “He Is,” and “Majesty,” the latter two being hymns for Satan. As Terzo says in “Mummy Dust,” he was “carried on a wolf’s back / to corrupt humanity.”

On a semi-related note, while looking at a summary of Revelation, I learned that the False Prophet supposedly executes those who refuse to worship Satan. The method of execution? Beheading. Just another interesting connection, I guess.

As the False Prophet, Terzo knew that he had a specific role to play. His job was to expand the following of Satan in preparation for the coming of the Antichrist. He knew his demise was inevitable, but he wanted to make it clear that he was more than just a pawn, hence all the hinting at him being a prophet. He is nothing if not consistent, doing things on his own terms until the bitter end.

Now, let us return to the Unholy Trinity. We have Satan and the False Prophet. The stage has been set for the final leg of the End Times. So, what about the Antichrist?

Surprise, bitch!

They said it couldn’t be done. They said it was impossible to turn this theory into a two-fer. THEY WERE WRONG.

If we buy into Terzo being the False Prophet, it makes sense narratively that Copia is the Antichrist. As people have pointed out, there seems to be a “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” thing going on, with Prequelle obviously representing pestilence, and Impera representing war. The End Times, it seems, have officially begun.

Forge seems to be hinting that Copia’s days are numbered, however. The current consensus is that the Clergy, likely with the assistance of the Ghouls, is going to take him out at the end of the summer tour. If Copia dies, that kind of puts a damper on the whole Antichrist thing, right?

As it turns out, this comes up in Revelation. According to the Scripture, the Antichrist will supposedly be mortally wounded about halfway through the Tribulation (i.e. the End Times), but will miraculously be healed by Satan.

Remember the whole Four Horsemen thing? We have 2/4 albums, so we’re about halfway through the cycle. Interesting.

I don’t think the Clergy knows that Copia is the Antichrist. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be planning to kill him. I don’t think even he knows (unless he’s just playing along). Everyone seems to think that he’s going to die at the end of the tour, so what an amazing plot twist it would be if he actually survived, perhaps taking on a new form?

I do think that Terzo knew, and as a final “fuck you,” decided to keep the truth of Copia’s identity to himself. Returning to the last line of “Spirit,” there is a general feeling of resentment when he declares that no one will know what he has seen. Big power move on his part.

That’s about it, I think. Am I reading too deeply into this? Probably. Do I care? Not right now, but I probably will when I take my finals. Sometimes I get possessed by a thought and have to tell everyone about it or I will explode. If I end up being wrong, and this monster of a post was all for naught, I will simply walk into the ocean.

TLDR:

[dominimoonbeam]

DOMINIIIIIIIII

YOU PLANTED THIS SHIP BRAIN ROT PLEASE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY 💛💛

From the Confessions Prompt List

William/Cam

"we have just met and yet it feels like i have known you for a lifetime."

Oh my gosh. You’ve just kickstarted that oneshot into a series. This is going to be part 2 and then there will be MORE. These two… I’ve also got them in my holiday line-up too! Thank you so much for this ask, Tay. I didn’t know how much I needed this.

<3

William/Cam

Part 2 to the Stargazing fic!

fluff

-

It started with the stars.

William wasn’t sure if Cam would come back after that night he confessed to seeing him, but he hoped that he would.

William returned every night to watch the stars near dawn.

After only a few nights, the daemon returned.

He didn’t cloak himself, despite William’s promise to respect his desire for solitude if he did.

The daemon smiled almost shyly and walked over to the bench where William sat.

William stood, bowing his head in greeting.

The daemon’s smile grew, along with a very slight blush. “Do you mind if I join you?” he asked.

William stepped to the side, offering a seat on the bench. Cam took it and William sat down again at his side. It was not a large bench, shoulders and arms brushing.

“You’re sure you don’t mind?” Cam asked. He had a soft voice, gentle and deeply calm.

William smiled then. “Certainly not. Would you like to talk or sit quietly?”

Cam considered the options and hesitated.

“I would be happy either way,” he assured.

Cam’s small smile returned. “I feel like I told you a lot about myself last time…” His smile faltered. Last time he had been in tears, overwhelmed with this world and not at all prepared to be seen.

William nodded. “Yes. I am sorry it—”

“No,” Cam shook his head, hand gesturing between them as if to brush the apology away. “It was good. It was what I needed. But I would like to hear you speak this time?”

William considered that. It was certainly fair. He turned a little to the side, to look at Cam directly, their thighs touching. “What would you like to know?”

Cam smiled and it was utter relief. He asked polite questions at first and soon they were in deep conversation about books and the authors and philosophers they had personally met in centuries past. It was, in fact, marvelous that they had not met until now.

At one point, William was gesticulating and telling a very elaborate story when Cam, in a fit of laugher, took his hand. He grabbed it as if to stop the story, shaking his head with tears in his eyes and a smile on his lips. The story went on but Cam kept his hand and William was happy to have lost it. Cam hung on to it as they continued to talk, their fingers eventually lacing when they were side by side again and looking at the stars.

Dawn was coming.

“We have just met and yet I feel like I have known you for a lifetime,” Cam confessed.

William felt the same, loath to leave him even if staying meant death. Surely those extra seconds and the chance to see Cam in the peach and tangerine of dawn was worth it.

Cam sighed, squeezing his hand a little. “You should be going,” he said reluctantly.

William nodded at the gently lightening edges of the horizon. “Yes. You will stay to watch the sunrise?”

Cam rose with him from the bench and looked down at their hands still locked together. “No.” He smiled a little. “It doesn’t hold the same beauty it used to,” he admitted quietly, that slight blush returning.

William stroked his thumb against the back of the other man’s hand. “Would you like to walk me home?” he chanced, curious.

Cam straightened, those marvelous eyes flicking up to his again. His expressions were so clear. Hope. “You would not mind?”

William nearly laughed. He moved Cam’s hand to his arm and started toward the door. “Have you ever been inside this building, my dear?”

Cam laughed a little and admitted that he had not.

[bluebudgie]

Hello friends!

If you've been following me for a hot second you may have already seen it, but my wonderful and talented girlfriend is currently running her very first kickstarter campaign!

She's done an amazing job illustrating the poem The Highwayman (which you may or may not know from an apparently infamous Sims 2 animatic which was shown to a not negligible amount of students in english schools?? are you ok my dear island friends?) in a 100(!!) pages hardcover book.

Now I won't claim to know anything about poetry here but I can at least safely say that the drawings look super cool.

Like there's a pretty lady, a mysterious dude in a trenchcoat, and horses from many perspectives:

Including my favourite pic:

(It's just neat.)

If you want to see a high quality art and literature project your chance is here! (Also go check out my girlfriend's posts about the topic for actually qualified information.)

Now here's the thing:

The project's really close to being funded, but not quite there yet!

Only 3 days remain as of the time I'm making this post so any help, any reblog is appreciated! It would mean the world to both of us!

[aquilathefighter]

Ten Books To Know Me

Rules: 10 (non-ancient) books for people to get to know you better, or that you just really like.

Thanks for the tag @littledreamling and @mathomhouse-e!!

I'm taking non-ancient literally, you will be getting literature from the 19th century lmao. In no particular order:

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

This book was my hook into the sci-fi genre! It's such a fun adventure to live in the world underwater in the Nautilus! I still have the annotated version my parents got me when I was around 9 or 10 with a very beat-up, well-loved dust jacket.

2. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Vonnegut's style is so influential. I adore the non-linearity of the story, how Billy gets "unstuck in time" and we see snippets of his past and his future. Of course the anti-war message is near and dear to my heart and the perspective of people who have been to war is so critical to hear. Vonnegut also has a special place in my heart as someone who taught the Iowa Writers' Workshop because that program is something my home state produces that I can be very proud of.

3. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

C'mon, I'm an ecologist! I have a degree in environmental science! This is an obvious choice for someone who cares about the environment, as it demonstrated the dangers of DDT to the public. Carson is a personal hero of mine as she essentially kickstarted the environmental movement and became one of the best science communicators in the United States. Her writing is simple, clear, and easy to understand even if you have no background in biology and chemistry. An amazing way to make people see what we are doing to our Earth.

4. Welcome to Subbirdia by John Marzluff

Woohoo! First bird book on the list! I read this in my first year seminar in college and it opened my eyes to how cool urban ecology is. I learned so much about how inhospitable suburbia can be for wildlife and what we can do to invite them back to where we live, so we can actually live beside native plants, animals, and other organisms. It's a great entry-level book about birds, the biodiversity crisis, and urban ecology.

5. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

I love the weird, the silly, and the bizarre. Hitchhiker's Guide has had such an impact on my sense of humor and outlook on life. I'm gonna use this space to recommend the entire trilogy in five parts to you.

6. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Are we shocked that a Neil book landed on here? I read this in 2021 when I was working just outside the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. It actually made me a friend who introduced me to Good Omens and then Discworld. I miss him dearly. Anyways, what a fantastic world that I really felt quite at home in as a Midwesterner. Sam Black Crow is one of my favorite characters of all time.

7. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

One of my earliest beloved poets. Whitman does so much with rhythm and sound in his poems; it's no surprise he's recognized as one of the American greats. I love his use of natural imagery and the way he explores the connections between people. And the powerful homoeroticism.

8. What Do We Know by Mary Oliver

Another poet, and a tumblr favorite at that! Oliver's poetry really speaks to my soul as someone who takes in the wonders all around us, big and small. Her prose poems are truly skilled, and if you read any of them I really adore At Blackwater Pond to get a taste.

9. Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold

I am so, so soft-hearted for the ecology of the Midwest and for the people who take the time to look and listen and learn from all the living beings that surround us. I've shared a quote from this book before but it really gets to the crux of what is so beautiful about the essays and natural history within:

"It is fortunate, perhaps, that no matter how intently one studies the hundred little dramas of the woods and meadows, one can never learn all of the salient facts about any one of them."

10. The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2nd Edition by David Allen Sibley

Last but not least, my favorite bird guide! This thing has been everywhere with me. I'm 95% sure that some of the pages have my blood on them. It's certainly got dirt all over it. This book is my bible. I take it wherever I go when I lead birding trips and when I'm somewhere that has unfamiliar birds. It is the best field guide for North American birds in my opinion.

Not sure who hasn't done this yet! Obviously no pressure to do it <3

@altair214 @lenreli @galacticstingray @pintobordeaux

[rodski1]

Can you see the official foods of a college student??? If you're not following my art account @johnlee_art, here's the pitch: TLDR: I started a kickstarter for a comic book. Help me out and pledge! Link in bio ............... I just launched my Kickstarter for a passion project of mine. A few years back, I decided that I was going to make a comic book from beginning to end. So I did it. I wrote the script. I did the artwork. I colored and I lettered. Every moment I got outside of work and family went to this book. I have 3 issues complete with issue 4's artwork nearly done. I have a goal to finish book 5 and 6 by the end of the year to complete this story arc. I'm publishing through my dear friends at @npccomics but here's where you can help! The kickstarter is to help pay for various things like shipping and I have rewards like stickers, pins, and post cards just to name a few! If we can get to the stretch Goals, we can unlock the other books as add ons! This is my pandemic baby. I'm proud of what I have done and I want to share it with the world. It's my love letter to comics. This story has a lot of Easter eggs, some only thay I know and some that you will know if you grew up with me. Cassie also does brunch and she likes 떡볶이 ... If you like comics or just want a cool read with great art, please help me out! Please check out the link and enjoy the interior samples. Share it with all your friends! Come give me a follow on my art account too! I draw all the time! (at Torrance, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp1g_oEu-Xt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=