Book Club - Blog Posts
I have a secret. I'm writing a book 😊 my husband has been helping point out if some things need more description or don't make sense. And when I'm ready, my friend who does editing for a living, I am going to review it for me. Even if it's the worst book in the world, I WILL finish it. And mark my words. I will be a published author at least once in my life lol
I'm going to post the books I read again on here so here is my most recent read!
Forget Me Not by Julie Soto
I loved this book. It was such a cute romance and a fast read. This is a second chance romance about a wedding planner and a florist and maybe it's because my wedding it coming up but I was hooked lol definitely recommend
My best friends and I are going to start a book club and I'm so excited 😭 once my finals are done and they are done with their current reads we are picking what to start with first!
Want to diversify your queer book readership?
Then join us over at Johnee’s 🌈📕 Queer Reads Book Club on discord!
Each month we read a queer book and discuss in real-time via our discussion channels. At the end of each month, we hop on the voice chat and reflect on the book.
For September, we are currently reading Café con Lychee by Emery Lee.
We are in the process narrowing down our horror list for Spooky Season and, as a book club, will vote for our October read.
We look forward to having you join us!
https://discord.gg/r297tsPC
Introducing Astronaut Story Time – from Earth! 📖
Tomorrow and each weekday at 4 p.m. EDT, record-breaking astronaut Christina Koch, who recently returned to our home planet after 328 days in space, will read a children’s book on HER Instagram Live!
👉🏽Follow @Astro_Christina to enjoy #NASAatHome ⏰Tap our story on Instagram to set a reminder to tune in If you want to learn more about life as one of our @NASAastronauts or you want to apply to #BeAnAstronaut, click HERE. Applications close in 5 days.
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.
Review of The Dresden Files: Peace Talks (spoilers ahead)
This review is gonna be slightly different than my normal reviews as I am the only Paules Sibling of Awesome who reads The Dresden Files, so I have not talked through my thoughts with B beforehand. I also don’t see the necessity of providing a rating for a book that is the sixteenth in a series (not counting the short story collections) - clearly I enjoy the books. Spoilers ahead!
So, the peace talks in question went about as disastrously as expected knowing Harry Dresden was involved, but obviously I didn’t expect that. Years ago, Jim Butcher promised us an apocalyptic trilogy to end the series (titled Stars and Stones, Hell’s Bells, and Empty Night, in case you missed it), but I never figured we’d actually get to a point where that ending seems in sight.
My big fear going into this was that Karrin Murphy would not survive. I was pleased to see that a) she did and b) she was as badass as ever, despite her injuries from Skin Game. Of course, who knows what will happen in Battle Ground, but really my only hope is that Murphy makes it to the end of the series. Just Murphy and Harry at the end of things, just as they were at the beginning.
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Review of The Dresden Files: Peace Talks (spoilers ahead)
This review is gonna be slightly different than my normal reviews as I am the only Paules Sibling of Awesome who reads The Dresden Files, so I have not talked through my thoughts with B beforehand. I also don't see the necessity of providing a rating for a book that is the sixteenth in a series (not counting the short story collections) - clearly I enjoy the books. Spoilers ahead!
So, the peace talks in question went about as disastrously as expected knowing Harry Dresden was involved, but obviously I didn't expect that. Years ago, Jim Butcher promised us an apocalyptic trilogy to end the series (titled Stars and Stones, Hell's Bells, and Empty Night, in case you missed it), but I never figured we'd actually get to a point where that ending seems in sight.
My big fear going into this was that Karrin Murphy would not survive. I was pleased to see that a) she did and b) she was as badass as ever, despite her injuries from Skin Game. Of course, who knows what will happen in Battle Ground, but really my only hope is that Murphy makes it to the end of the series. Just Murphy and Harry at the end of things, just as they were at the beginning.
Continue Reading on WordPress
Been reading a lot of books lately And most of them I enjoy greatly There’s none so rewardin’ As the ol’ Robert Jordan Although he can drag on … ornately - Mod B
I started a club with some friends A book club of old odds and ends It’s been quite engaging Our paging-by-paging And keeping up, if through a lens - Mod B
grumpy x sunshine, i hate everyone but you, four core female group, brother’s best friend, troubled girl x sunshine boy, secret relationships, poor girl x wealthy boy, small town romance, found family, childhood best friends to lovers, it’ll always be/it’ll never be you, dual/multiple pov, sapphic romance, slow burn romance, forbidden romance, one bed trope, fake dating… and more.
“I’ve never felt so safe with someone the way I do with Sam. When I’m in his arms, I feel like there’s nothing in this world that can hurt me.
Because he would never let anything in this world hurt me.
Because this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Because when I’m in his arms, I feel like I’m home.”
grumpy x sunshine.
i hate everyone but you.
four core female group.
brother’s best friend.
secret relationships.
small town romance.
found family.
childhood best friends to lovers.
it’ll always be/it’ll never be you.
sapphic romance.
slow burn romance.
forbidden romance.
one bed trope.
fake dating.
dual/multiple pov’s.
and more.
eight childhood best friends. seven love stories. lots of drama.
“That’s the thing with Sam, I don’t need words. I never need words from him because his actions speak loud enough. They do all the talking for him, they always have.”
“His love shines into me and lights me up with just one single glance, no words necessary.”
childhood best friends to lovers, secret relationships, sunshine boy x troubled girl, i hate everyone but you, dual/multiple character pov’s, part one/two time jump, small town, found family, four core girl group, drama, forbidden romance… and that’s only the first book😄
Keeper of the Memories
This is the second story of the “Avonlea Club”. I am a bit late though, but still I hope you enjoy<3
Sylvia with her family was moving to a place in the country. She was leaving behind all of her memories. This was something Sylvia didn’t like. Moving away was cowardice to her. She was someone who wanted to hold on to everything. But her family had chosen the other way, so they were moving.
The place was very beautiful and calm. Any nature lover like Sylvia would love this place. Sylvia liked the place but it couldn’t be something she would call home. Back in the days, when everything was perfect, they used to go to vacation resorts just like this one. Those times were golden. Every moment in those resorts was lovable to her. But their new house wasn’t their vacation house. It was beautiful but not lovable.
Sylvia didn’t want to go into the deep of the house. Hence, she had requested her parents to give her the ground floor guest room as her bedroom.If she needed fresh air, it would be easier to run for it from her ground floor bedroom. The upstairs rooms were all very deep and dark. If she stayed there, the room was going to absorb the remaining pieces of memories she had managed to save within her. She wouldn’t let the darkness take her precious memories. If darkness came all the way from upstairs, she would run, run so hard and be out the house, straight to the woods, where she would be free to hold on to her memories, to express herself fully. In the house, her parents wanted her to be unexpressed.
While unpacking her things, Sylvia found the doll. The doll for which she used to fight. It was one of her favourite dolls and there were so many memories with it. Again, like their own home, Sylvia’s parents didn’t want to take the doll with them to the new house. Her mom said that it was better to leave it with the old home which was its real preserver. Sylvia didn’t accept it. She knew that their previous home (the real one) was the holder of the doll, but she was forced to leave her home anyway, she couldn’t at least leave her doll, the precious one with precious memories. In this decision, her father said that she was not moving on. Sylvia didn’t understand why she needed to move on. She wanted to scream and tell her parents that she would never ever move on. At the end, she didn’t scream but packed the doll anyway.
Sylvia always used to sit beside her mother at supper. Likewise, on the first night at the new house during supper, Sylvia sat beside her mother. Her father insisted that she sit beside him pointing at the empty chair near him. Sylvia became really tired at that point. She couldn’t understand why her parents wanted to change everything after moving away from their home. She became aggressive and went straight to her room without finishing her meal. Suddenly she felt very lonely in her room. She felt the need of someone. So, she kept visiting her memories, her only way to escape the situation.
Sylvia’s mother told her that she was not going to school and would be homeschooled under a tutor for sometime. When asked, her mother replied that she wanted to give Sylvia sometime to adjust. But her mother didn’t understand that Sylvia would never adjust. However, as she wasn’t going to school, every afternoon, she had plenty of time. One afternoon, she went to roam around in the forest in the backyard of their new house. The forest felt very intense and heavy to her. However, she kept going to the depths of it. In the middle of the forest, she discovered a well. It surprised her. A well in the middle of the forest! The well was very ancient looking. There were vines and creepers around it. Algae and mosses had surrounded it in every direction. She wanted to go near it but also she was nervous. The well was giving her some chills. Suddenly she realised that she was indeed in the very deep- of the forest and started panicking thinking she had lost the direction towards the new house. Without thinking twice, she started running in the opposite direction from the well. She was running and thinking. Thinking about the well. She heard her tutor say one day that there was a legend about the well in the forest. She didn’t ask about it because she wasn’t interested in anything at that moment. But then, she wanted to know about it. She was curious.
That day it took Sylvia a long time and a big hassle to reach the new house from the forest. Her head was filled with the thoughts of the well. The next day she kept waiting for her tutor eagerly. As her tutor entered the study room, she was a bit astonished to see Sylvia’s eager eyes waiting for her patiently. Sylvia was never interested in anything else before. The tutor took the situation as a good opportunity to become connected with Sylvia. She smiled at her with a sweet ‘good morning’.
Sylvia replied, “Good morning, Ms. Marlowe. You’re late today.”
“Yes, I’m very sorry for that. But I wonder why you’re all buckled up with the sunshine-like eyes of yours, I thought you didn’t enjoy history.”
“I was waiting for you actually. You see Ms. Marlowe, I’m very curious to know about the story of the well in the forest.”
At this Ms. Marlowe became a bit confused. She couldn’t understand why Sylvia suddenly wanted to know about the ‘well legend’. But as she wanted to be close to Sylvia, she decided to start her lesson with the story.
“Well, that’s a very interesting story indeed. It’s an ancient saying actually said by old people of this area. People used to say, there is an old and creepy well in the middle of the forest. It has some dark magic with it. But it can comfort people really well.”
Sylvia knew she needed to be comforted more than anything else in this new house. He3nce, she interrupted her tutor by asking, “What do you mean by making comfortable Ms. Marlowe?”
“Well I meant to say that, suppose a person is in distress and goes to the well, the well would show some kind of illusion which can make the person forget about their distress and they would be comfortable.”
“Wow, isn’t that something really enchanting!" Sylvia exclaimed with joy.
“Yes it is but you see, there is a reason why people call it dark magic. Because it’s not actually t actually beneficial for people. The well is playing illusions, it can't ever be good. People need to find ways to deal with their problems naturally. This sort of way, the one the well directs never really helps but makes the situation worse."
Ms. Marlowe might have continued lecturing about the dark sides of the well legend but Sylvia wasn't paying any attention to her. She knew what she needed and she had found it. Then she thought she was going to be happy again.
The next day, Sylvia went to the forest, to the well. That time she wasn't scared and near to the well.
She said, "I've been told that you make people happy. I'm here to see what you have with you to make me happy."
Sylvia waited for sometime but there wasn't any reply. She didn't see any magic coming. She became sad and desperate.
"Please understand that I'm very sad and lonely. I don't like it here. I want to go back to my own place and own people. To the past, to those sweet memories where everything was alright", Sylvia kept saying those aloud and wept hard. Few minutes had gone while Sylvia was weeping but still nothing changed to make her happy. She began to give up. She thought she could never be happy again. Just at that moment, she saw a girl crawling out of the well. Sylvia panicked at the first instance. But eventually she realised it was someone she would never have to be scared of.
"Sabrina, is that you?" She asked the crawling girl.
The girl stood finally in front of Sylvia. Her face was somewhat blurry and wet. In fact she was fully drenched in water. As she stood face to face with Sylvia, Sylvia could see her properly.
She cried "Oh, Sabrina. Is that really you? I have been missing you so much." She ran to the girl and hugged her tight. The girl didn't move neither said anything. But she made Sylvia happy.
Sylvia started visiting the well everyday to see the girl. Sylvia went there and called the girl by Sabrina. Everyday the girl crawled out of the well to stand in front of her. She talked about her day and her sweet old memories. The girl never talked or answered any questions. Sylvia didn't mind much. She was very happy just to be with her. But one day the girl talked. So, she asked her, "Why don't you ever talk to me Sabrina. I share everything with you just like with you just like I used to do before. But you never share anything. It makes me sad sometimes."
And then the girl replied. Her voice was very faded and indistinct. She said, "I am not used to talking outside of the water."
"Oh, then how can I hear you talking? I cannot talk inside the water."
"But you have never tried it, did you? Why don't you come to the water with me? I have many things to talk about and show you in the deep of the water", the girl said, attracting Sylvia immensely. Sylvia found the offer really engaging. She gave it a thought. She thought about how miserable she was in the new house. She also thought about the girl who was her only source of happiness after everything had been changed. She kept thinking for some time and finally replied with a happy face, "I got an idea. I think I want to come and stay with you in the well forever because you're the one who makes me truly happy".
"Seems like a very good idea to me", the girl replied. Sylvia set up her mind and was very proud to have found her forever happiness.
Sylvia's mother noticed her daughter disappearing into the forest every evening. She also asked Sylvia once what she was doing there. Sylvia just simply replied that she was playing and having fun. Her mother was relieved everytime she was informed that her daughter was having fun. She thought Sylvia was finally moving on.
Sylvia was packing her things when her mother called her from the kitchen informing about the arrival of Ms. Marlowe. She didn't mind the interruption because she was very happy that day. She merrily went to her study room.
Ms. Marlowe said, "Good morning Sylvia, you look very jolly today."
"Yes, Ms. Marlowe. In fact I'm the happiest today. I won't be bothering to study history today as this is going to be my last lesson with you", Sylvia replied joyfully.
Ms. Marlowe couldn't understand the reason behind Sylvia's calling the session as the last one. She said, "But I wasn't informed about it. I didn't know that I don't have to tutor you anymore."
"You weren't informed by my parents because they don't know about it yet. But I'm informing you now, ain't I? Now please let us start our lesson at once Ms. Marlowe as I have to pack up my things really quick", Sylvia said impatiently.
"Pack up your things? Are you going somewhere? ", Ms. Marlowe asked confusedly.
"Yes, I'm going to be living with my sister from now on, in the well in the forest", she replied excitedly.
Ms. Marlowe then became very worried about Sylvia's condition. Sylvia was hallucinating the whole time. Ms. Marlowe realised that she was still grieving and never moved on. She confronted her and wanted her to realise the truth as well. She said, "Sylvia, my dear girl, there is no well in the forest. It has been your misunderstanding. You were overwhelmed by the well legend and imagining things because you were sad. I know you miss Sabrina, but she is gone and never coming back. You have to accept it and…"
Sylvia became agitated and didn't let Ms. Marlowe takes her happiness away from her. She shouted, "You don't know anything. I don't want to talk to you." She left the study running towards her own room.
Ms. Marlowe couldn't just stay still. She went to Sylvia’s mother explaining her situation. Her mother broke down into tears. After all, she was also going through hard times after the death of their first child, Sabrina. Ms. Marlowe consoled her and requested her to have some more patience to deal with Sylvia’s condition. Together they went to Sylvia's room.
Sylvia was shaking and sobbing sitting in the corner of her room. After Ms. Marlowe's confrontation, she was forced to visit her dark memories which she was avoiding for a while. She didn't ever want to accept the fact that her sister, her true companion, was dead. She didn't want to move on and wanted to hold onto the memories where Sabrina was present. She didn't want to start anew where no one will talk about Sabrina accepting her absence. But alas! This is the rule of nature. After all of the trials to hold onto Sabrina's memories and never moving on, Sylvia couldn't help but hit the realization. She was very tired of all of her efforts to keep her dead sister alive in her memories. She suddenly knew that she had to accept the fact and move on with her life eventually.
When her mother along with Ms. Marlowe came to her room, she stood strongly facing them. She apologized to her mother for making such a decision of running away without consulting her. Her mother hugged her tight and said, "My baby girl, I'm very sorry that you had to go through all of these alone. I understand now that I and your father weren't actually neither helping you nor helping ourselves to overcome the situation healthily. But I want you to know that we are still a family. We love you and Sabrina as well. We also miss her a lot. Together we will have to deal with our grief and the darkest part of our memories so that we feel free to miss her from the depth of our hearts. I guess we all made mistakes in the healing process. We were not actually moving on instead we were just running away from our griefs which was not healthy at all."
Her mother's words comforted Sylvia. She understood that no matter what happens, Life goes on. Hence, she accepted everything and finally began the healing process. After that, whenever Sylvia visited their old home or whenever she touched the doll for which she used to fight with her sister, Sylvia didn't have to hold onto the fact Sabrina needed to be there for her. She just missed her and was grateful to Sabrina for being a good companion. Sylvia's father didn't request her again to sit beside him where Sabrina used to sit at supper. He understood that though Sabrina wasn’t there, her place was secured in their hearts.
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Studio Ghibli is an acclaimed animated studio based in Tokyo, Japan, renowned for its enchanting hand-drawn animation and imaginative storytelling. The studio’s films are celebrated for their lush visuals and deeply emotional narratives, often exploring themes of wonder, nostalgia, nature, childhood, and self-discovery.
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"And so the lion fell in love with the lamb..." he murmured.
Hooked away, hiding my eyes as I thrilled to the word.
"What a stupid lamb" I sighed.
"What a sick, masochistic lion."
I want to be in a book club. Digital is great, English is best. If anyone has a book club or would like to start one: I’m in. It is so sad not being able to talk about books to people who’ll actually listen.
I can read a lot of different things, but seriously: a book club
I really like Shadowhunters if that’s helpful
April's harvest. Not much, but honest work.
Beware of Pity was an easy, effortless winner. What an amazing book, and a great introduction to Zweig. It inspired me immensely—I have pages and pages worth of notes and quotes, and I'm so very excited to read more.
Possession can easily count as two separate works, and, therefore, was twice as taxing to read. It was alright, really, and the author was brilliant for coming up with so much "lore," but it was simply not my cup of tea. Where people see great romance, I see a self-centered man whose actions are destructive to the point of ruining lives. I understand that humans are flawed, I do! But I don't like a story full of bad actions and worse consequences of those extremely flawed beings to be presented on a plate with gold rims and called something it's not.
I have the most to say about Daisy Miller, but, perhaps I'll save it for later—a long thinkpiece, likely. It's a short story, but I just adored it. I love love love a tragedy, and it really scratched all the right spots. It's a very thought-provoking piece; it had me thinking and pondering on its meaning for days.
O Caledonia was recommended to me by positively everyone, and glazed from every angle, so I will just say that I went into it with expectations raised a bit too high. It's good for what it is, but I can't call it a revolutionary work. It's a cute coming-of-age story with a great setting that I, personally, couldn't relate to, but I know many people did and will.
I have officially gotten through half the chapter. There's only 20 pages. So I'll read the next 10 pages tomorrow in my perfected late fashion.
My caseworker started a book club and we're reading a self help book. Our first club meeting is tomorrow and I haven't even read the first chapter.
My caseworker started a book club and we're reading a self help book. Our first club meeting is tomorrow and I haven't even read the first chapter.
Technology: Transcend and Transform
Technology has become a necessity in most of our society, even those with limited disposable income or countries with lower economies have updated how they function to include smart phones, computers and apps as part of daily or at least common function.
I love libraries has been working on a local libraries ebook (Libraries Transform) where patrons can instantly (if connected to a local library) use their app to download the selected book to read and have the ability to discuss the books with other app users. Along with being a more universal book club that some communities might not have or certain age groups have easy access to, this allows individuals to have larger conversations and may allow for opinions more diverse than you would get to experience in a normal book club. And of course, this allows those who might not have a well equipped or have personal easy access to their library and issues with returning books on time or other barriers to be connected to reading and the reading community.
For the release of this app, the Libraries Transform picked Kassandra Montag’s After the Flood; available Oct 7th - 21st through the Libby app and once you’re connected to your local library
amazing amazing amazing "video essay style" youtubers to check out
video essays on queer history and obscure historical stories/events: Kaz Rowe
hilarious book talk on popular (and often terrible) books that tiktok makes famous, complete with full details and spoilers: lexi aka newlynova
deep dive video essays into classic literature, popular shows/movies, crime, and so many other topics: biz
talks on fandom and popular shows/books/movies: uncarly
more deep dives into popular books: shitty book club
deep dive on bluey episodes: pugly
Marry me 😻
This guy’s stuff is fucking cool, man 😁👍book sculpts by @james_trevino on insta