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Literary Witches
Literary Witches: A Celebration of Magical Women Writers | Taisia Kitaiskaia
47 posts | 20 read | 89 to read
Celebrate the witchiest women writers with beautiful illustrations and imaginative vignettes. Literary Witches draws a connection between witches and visionary writers: both are figures of formidable creativity, empowerment, and general badassery. Through poetic portraits, Taisia Kitaiskaia and Katy Horan honor the witchy qualities of well-known and obscure authors alike, including Virginia Woolf, Mira Bai, Toni Morrison, Emily Dickinson, Octavia E. Butler, Sandra Cisneros, and many more. Perfect for both book lovers and coven members, Literary Witches is a treasure and a source of inspiration. Kitaiskaia and Horan bring fresh insights on your most beloved authors, suggest enchanting new writers, and invite you to rediscover the magic of literature.
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review
monalyisha
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Pickpick

The text of Literary Witches is not straightforward. Though there‘s a tiny, factual snippet at the bottom of each writer‘s page, detailing their life & works, most of the text is far more fanciful. Each author is described in 3 short vignettes (3 is a magic number), filled with allusive symbolism. Emily Dickinson transforms into a mink; Audre Lord is a golden lava goddess; Anne Carson‘s brain travels independently & bites at people‘s ankles. 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/1: The profiles are all accompanied by gorgeous portraits, illustrated by Katy Horan. Some served as reminders to read more by authors I‘ve loved; most notably, I need to read Shirley Jackson‘s “Life Among the Savages.” Some introduced me to brand-new creators, like Janet Frame & Maria Sabina, their works landing squarely on my TBR. A unique book/art piece, to be sure! (edited) 2y
monalyisha #Scarathlon2022 @StayCurious @Clwojick +15 (genre) +10 (@mdm139 #witchathon) +10 (#Pointsathon @Dieareader @GHABI4ROSES) + 10 (#Spookoween2022 @TheSpineView) +1 participation = 46 points to be added to total. 2206 points = running total! #TeamMonsterMash (edited) 2y
monalyisha Spilled Black Cat Ink: Content in a Cottage 🎨 2y
TheSpineView Excellent 2y
47 likes4 comments
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monalyisha
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“Shirley‘s ghost haunts the ice cream section of your twenty-four hour grocery store at three a.m., wearing cotton socks and noting human behavior on a little writing pad. She doesn‘t need help finding anything.”

It‘ll mean cutting up this gorgeous book…but I might have to frame this. 🌌

monalyisha #Scarathlon2022 +1 participation point. Running total, week 2 = 3 points. #TeamMonsterMash @StayCurious @Clwojick 2y
48 likes1 stack add1 comment
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monalyisha
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I‘ve gone rogue. 😂

This wasn‘t on my #Scarathlon2022 TBR but it WAS on my physical bookshelf.

#TeamMonsterMash

monalyisha +1 (participation). Starting the count for Week 2. 2y
Clare-Dragonfly I have this book on my physical bookshelf too! 2y
monalyisha @Clare-Dragonfly I forgot about it somehow! It‘s different than I expected but fun. 2y
54 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Cazxxx
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Been saving up for theses two, my perfect mix of literature, witches and oracle cards 💫

KristiAhlers I have that deck! I love it 3y
Cazxxx @KristiAhlers They‘re lovely and the book is awesome too! 3y
Kimberlone I have the tarot cards. Didn‘t know there was a book that went along with them! 3y
Cazxxx @Kimberlone yes, the book is lovely also! 3y
40 likes4 comments
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jb72
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Pickpick
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
22 likes1 comment
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MaJoRomeroDLV
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The book gives good recommendations about several women writers, but I was expecting a bit more.

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GatheringBooks
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I am having such a tough time preparing for this 20-minute presentation. How to do this?! So many women authors/illustrators - so little time! Join us for this webinar. Will be sharing the virtual stage with my Dean (Dr. Najwa Alhosani) and the Chair of the Special Education Department (Dr. Hala Elhoweris) at the United Arab Emirates University.
29 March 2021, Monday, 3:30-5 pm UAE time.
https://uaeu-ac-ae.zoom.us/j/95364684946

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kyraleseberg
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Because 2020 needed a witch riding a shark, my daughters (human + fur) made it happen 😆
Happy H a l l o w e e n 🕸️🕷️🧹🦈🎃

Sace This post is worthy of the #BestOfLitsy award! 🤣 4y
AlaMich That‘s awesome!!! ❤️ 4y
kyraleseberg @Sace @AlaMich Thank you!! 🖤😆 4y
27 likes3 comments
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MatchlessMarie
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I usually stay up till midnight for these swaps but I was so tired last night 😂 This was wonderful to wake up to. I can‘t wait to read this one. The illustrations look beautiful. And a candle in the shape of a pie! It‘s perfect. I especially loved that you took the care to do a tarot pull for me and included that in my card. Which was spot on for where I am in life right now. ✨🔮 #AllHallowsReadSwap Thank you @Wastedmindsx

CloakNQuill I‘m ecstatic that you liked everything! That candle was too perfect to resist & smelled amazing. 4y
55 likes1 comment
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kyraleseberg
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Some spooky reads I picked up at the library today 🔮🖤🎃🕷️🕸️
Top row for me, bottom row for my daughter!

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Augustdana
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My local book store ordered this one in after I looked at the oracle set they had in stock! I love book stores and I love this book so much!!!! It‘s so beautiful! I love witchy women writers!!! MARY SHELLEY!!! AHHHH!!

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CoffeeCatsBooks
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Pickpick

Wow, this was very imaginative and informative. It features a diverse mix of known and unknown female writers.

Each author receives a beautifully, striking full page portrait by Katy Hiram. The first third of the entry is a poetic narrative blending of details from their life and work. The next section is a short bio about them although brief, these held a lot of fascinating details. The last third was recommended works by the author. #NFNov

MrBook 😻😻😻 5y
Linsy I loved this book!! 5y
CoffeeCatsBooks @MrBook Tullulah stayed knocked out in the same position for my entire reading of this book. 😹 5y
See All 8 Comments
CoffeeCatsBooks @Linsy I have so many new authors I want to read now! I especially loved that for the poets she listed individual poems instead of whole collections. 5y
rsteve388 6 pta! 5y
rsteve388 Pts 5y
Dragon 😻 5y
CoffeeCatsBooks @Dragon The kitties 🐱 have been very good reading companions today. 5y
58 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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CoffeeCatsBooks
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#TIL #NFNov Shirley Jackson “...The Lottery was written after rural Vermont residents painted a swastika on her house (her husband, a professor at Bennington College, was Jewish).”

Wow, I did not know that was the catalyst for her story.

Soubhiville I had no idea! 5y
TrishB 😕 5y
SamAnne Oh wow. What a story. Going to stack this. 5y
See All 8 Comments
rsteve388 4 pts! 5y
CoffeeCatsBooks @Soubhiville @TrishB It had a lot of surprising facts. 5y
CoffeeCatsBooks @SamAnne I ended up really loving it. 5y
Clwojick This book looks brilliant! Stacked! 5y
CoffeeCatsBooks @Clwojick Yes and the artwork is so striking. 5y
59 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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sprainedbrain
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Look what arrived today! Thanks to @phatsallylee for my #basicwitchswap package 🖤

I am getting awfully exited for Halloween!

phatsallylee It arrived and it doesn't look damaged!! Only 18 days to opening day! 5y
sprainedbrain @phatsallylee No damage at all! I‘m so excited!! 5y
75 likes2 comments
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Weaponxgirl
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I‘ve made a conscious decision this year to take my time reading to try to avoid the burnout I seem to suffer every year. My stats for this month are pretty conservative but I‘m happy with them especially since I‘ve got 3 other books on the go atm that I‘m just dipping in and out of.
I‘m also super chuffed that I managed some poetry a translated book and a good amount of #ownvoices.
Here‘s to next month being just as satisfying

mreads What's the book in the upper right? With the cat a sword on the cover, looks interesting 😄 6y
Weaponxgirl @mreads that‘s a picture from inside the tagged book. Stupid Litsy cropped the photo too much and I couldn‘t be bothered to make a new one. It‘s lovely artwork in this book 6y
Gaylagal2 On Tyranny is fantastic! That's an audio book that I've listened to many, many times 🤓 6y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego You did good! 📚💕 6y
59 likes4 comments
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megnews
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Panpan

Literary Witches just was not my cup of tea. It did, however, introduce me to Argentinian poet Alejandra Pizarnik. I‘m excited to check her work out.

Book 21/90 1/18/19

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Weaponxgirl
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Pickpick

The artwork in this book makes it a pick all on its own. Look at zora. I love the idea of this book and it happened to be the sort of authors I love kinda dark, with a atmosphere of magic and dread. Of which I now have many new authors added to my tbr thanks to the reading lists.
I would like a second volume please, where‘s Isabel Allende? Jean Rhys and numerous other authors I think would fit. Nice selection of non white authors here too

Weaponxgirl On a side not the artists shop still isn‘t open online and I want some of these as prints on my wall. If anyone knows where to get some please let me know 6y
Kaye I‘ve read one of Allende‘s books , but it was long ago. I really liked it. 6y
Weaponxgirl @kaye that is one of my favourite books ever and exactly what I was thinking of. 6y
Kaye I can‘t recall ever reading anything quite like it since. 6y
Weaponxgirl @kaye I just remember the impression the book left on me so vividly! 6y
61 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Christine
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@pgh.femme - Thank you so, so much for the absolutely lovely box! I truly adore everything. So excited for Literary Witches and Jailbreaking the Goddess (which you‘ve introduced to me in more ways than one ;), and the gypsy book is fascinating and gorgeous! And my own copy of the Adichie. ❤️ The Lush ghost is so cute and smells fantastic - can‘t wait to see it glow! And I LOVE the bracelet and will look forward to wearing it every October! ⬇️

Christine The beautiful cards and mini vintage art prints, the bookmarks, the stones and crystal, the bookplates (with dandelions, which have always been one of my favorite plants despite their reputation as pesky weeds!) - I just really, really love it all and can‘t thank you enough for your thoughtfulness and generosity. Hope you are having a Halloween full of happy moments, and thanks again! @pgh.femme 6y
Christine And thanks so much to @monalyisha for the brilliant #witchpleaseswap - such a complete joy! 🧙‍♀️🖤 6y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I got this book too! I read it right away, loved it 💞 6y
See All 6 Comments
monalyisha I love this package! AMAZING job, @pgh.femme 🖤! And I love your photo & your detailed description, too, @Christine! Hope you both had a happy #WitchPleaseSwap! 🔮 6y
Christine @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Oh good - I really want to start it ASAP! 6y
Christine @monalyisha It really was an amazing package! I feel so fortunate to have been matched with @pgh.femme :) Thanks again for hosting this extraordinarily good swap! 6y
51 likes6 comments
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StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
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Pickpick

So many inspiring women, and authors I'd never even heard of. Not to mention the stunning artwork. What a lovely gift! Thanks again @ferskner #WitchPleaseSwap

#Screamathon @4thhouseontheleft

MaleficentBookDragon Wow. I hadn't heard of this one. Stacked! 6y
ferskner As soon as I saw it I thought of you! I'm so glad you like it! 6y
Linsy I loved this one too! 6y
monalyisha I haven‘t read my copy yet but now I‘m even more excited! 🖤 6y
104 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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GatheringBooks
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Pickpick

#OctoberPutASpellOnYou Day 9: This is a photo of me in the thick of Norwegian woods when my family visited a friend who lives in Bergen. I found this sign and wondered why I was disallowed to fly in my #Broom while trekking. Tagged book is our inspiration for #WomenReadWomen2019 - a year of women reading women. Clearly, I am excited about it. Bought a few titles found in the book. My full review of tagged book here: https://wp.me/pDlzr-hPO

Cinfhen Great photo 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Too cute!!! 🖤🖤 6y
vkois88 Love it!! 6y
79 likes3 comments
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StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
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@monalyisha my #WitchPleaseSwap package is wrapped and ready to roll. I can wait for my match to get it. I hope she loves it. I loved preparing it! 🖤🧙🏻‍♀️

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego And she's off 📮 6y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @ferskner Have you gotten anything fun in the mail lately? 😉 6y
ferskner Haha! I got a note that I have something in the apartment office, but I haven't been home in time to get it yet. I should be able to tonight! 6y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @ferskner Yay, ok. Sorry the lady at the post office made a comment when I dropped it off that had me paranoid. Lol. 6y
86 likes4 comments
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CampbellTaraL
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#witchPleaseSwap form submitted and confirmation email received, @monalyisha

Thank you for setting this up, can't wait to get started!

monalyisha Thanks for joining! (The book you tagged is one of the titles I‘m most interested in 🙌🏻). 🔮 6y
CampbellTaraL @monalyisha Oooo! 🎁 idea 😜 6y
33 likes1 stack add2 comments
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LittleWonder
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Bailedbailed

Never have I ever bailed on a book so fast in a very long time. Not my style. Reads like a reference guide.

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Jen2
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Pickpick

Wonderful! Added so many books to my TBR!

gjacobs I'm curious to learn what some of the books are! 7y
130 likes12 stack adds1 comment
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Jen2
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Women who create things other than children are still considered dangerous by many.

Emilymdxn OMG I want this 7y
116 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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BookishMe
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Books in my backpack, books in the tote, &
#books in my hand

One of the greatest joy, along with the #libraryhaul is walking with #librarybooks 😍😍
#happybookworm

GatheringBooks you will absolutely adore this book!! 7y
BookishMe @GatheringBooks you're right... Absolute delight as I slowly studied the illustrations, the 'hexen text'... 7y
33 likes2 comments
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GatheringBooks
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One of my birthday book loot - took my off-in-lieu (where one can choose one‘s day off if one of the public holidays fall on a weekend) during my actual birthday last Friday for a long birthday weekend. Yummy brunch overlooking the Marina alongside Literary Witches.

saresmoore Lovely! 7y
Bklover Looks heavenly! Happy Belated Birthday!🎈🎈🎉 7y
merelybookish Happy birthday! 7y
See All 14 Comments
Kaye Hope you had a wonderful day 💕 7y
batsy That looks wonderful! Happy belated birthday 🎈🎉 7y
VioletBramble Happy Birthday! It looks like a beautiful day. 🎉🎈 7y
DivineDiana Looks like a perfect birthday celebration! Best wishes! 🎉 7y
Chelleo I‘m gonna need you to show more enthusiasm 😂😂😂 Happy belated birthday! (edited) 7y
Bookzombie Happy Belated Birthday!! 7y
GatheringBooks @Kaye @batsy @VioletBramble it was indeed a wondrous day, sun was out, but there was cool wind too, quite rare for humid singapura. :) 🧚🏼‍♀️💕 7y
GatheringBooks @DivineDiana it was! super low-key, just husband and 16 year old girl who was also on e-learning so we got to spend the day together. thanks, @Bookzombie 💖💗💕 7y
GatheringBooks @Chelleo hahhaha had to laugh at this. hard to muster enthusiasm when you just turned 42! waaaah!! 😂🤣 but yeah, yay! more reason to receive great books from ze husband. :)🧚🏼‍♀️💝📚📚 7y
monalyisha This book looks AMAZING! Like everything I‘ve ever wanted. 😍🙌🏻 7y
51 likes3 stack adds14 comments
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Linsy
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Pickpick

I wish I had a physical copy of this book. Both the art and the writing are incredible. A wonderful keepsake. #favoritecover #booksandshelfiesm18 @Amabear

Jess_Read_This The title and cover alone on this one... ❤️😍❤️ 7y
Amabear Love!! So pretty! 7y
61 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Dorianna
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Pickpick

Taisia Kitaiskaia writes witchy vignettes that sound like they belong in a spell book for some of history‘s greatest women writers. Katy Horan‘s folkloric illustrations complement them perfectly. I loved the diverse mix of writers and the short biography and recommended reading sections helped me add more books to my TBR. A fun and delightful read.

librarypoweruser OOOOOOOH I love your description! I want to read this! 7y
28 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Dorianna
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My girl Shirley Jackson in Literary Witches. Witch of Villages, Domestic Horrors, and Omens.

“To escape her demonic children, Shirley once had a long antagonistic argument with her hair dryer in the bathroom. Won.”

22 likes1 stack add
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RowReads1
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Pickpick

A charming book of witchy writers🧙🏽‍♀️✍🏻. It includes a well-rounded group of writers of different backgrounds, countries and races. It‘s another of those books I wish were longer. The art is good and fitting. 🧙🏻‍♀️

queerbookreader Did you happen notice how many stories featured queer characters or were written by queer writers? Thank you!! 7y
RowReads1 @queerbookreader Each writer has a picture, witchy words, info on their lives and recommended books. There are several queer writers included such as Gertrude Stein. 7y
61 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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LikelyLibrarian
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Sushi and a good book. Better than dinner and a movie 😁

ReadingSusan That looks like the best Friday night ever! 7y
16 likes2 comments
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MyReviewofBooks
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Pickpick

A fantastic book. If you are on the search for some serious feminist writers this book hands them over to you. Quick and quirky blurbs about their lives. Evocative illustrations. A must own.

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batsy
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#bookmail
Ordered Brave New World for #litsyclassics. Great to have the book but maybe a bit more excited about the coloured bookmark from Book Depository, to be honest ?

Review copy of Anna Kavan's Ice, which I'm really excited about.

And the best part - an unexpected present from @RowReads1 ! Thank you so much, Sarah! I browsed through & I love the little prose poems for each "literary witch". Definitely a book to treasure ❤️❤️ #litsypenpals

vivastory Ice sounds phenomenal 7y
merelybookish Ice's cover is on 🔥! 7y
Utopiyll Have you read Autumn by Ali Smith? That was the first time I had even heard of Brave New world 😂 Tell me if you like it, cause I might pick it up! 7y
See All 12 Comments
batsy @Utopiyll No I haven't read Autumn yet but I hope to! At some point! 😆 I will keep you posted about Brave New World ☺️ 7y
batsy @vivastory Yes it does and the cover is really something @merelybookish 7y
readinginthedark I can‘t believe I‘ve never heard of Ice; it sounds so good! 7y
batsy @readinginthedark It does, doesn't it. I first heard of Kavan via the author Kate Zambreno, when she used to be on social media. 7y
BarbaraBB Love the cover of Brave New World! 7y
readordierachel Ooh, anxious to hear what you think of Ice. I've been wanting to read that one. 7y
batsy @ReadOrDieRachel I'm really looking forward to it! 7y
batsy @BarbaraBB It's pretty groovy :) 7y
readinginthedark I love hearing about authors from other authors. 👍🏻 7y
96 likes2 stack adds12 comments
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LikelyLibrarian
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This book is amazing! It‘s filled with slightly creepy gothic art and references to witchy women writers, known and not-so-well-known. Too long, their work has been hidden in drawers or closets, derided as so much “feminine tosh.” Here, Taisia Kitaiskaia celebrates the magic of women‘s work.

15 likes1 stack add
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LikelyLibrarian
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Christmas gift from my bestie. She knows me so well 💕

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parasolofdoom
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Pickpick

I'd say this was worth it for the art and reading suggestions alone though, as I said in my last blurb, the little vingettes felt a *little* bit onanistic.

12 likes1 stack add
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parasolofdoom
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#currentlyreading I just don't know about these entries. Each writer has three of these little quasipoetic dreamscape paragraphs but it's not doing it for me. They feel sort of masturbatory? Pompous? I'm not sure exactly but I think the fabulous illustrations do a MUCH better job at giving the writers included her a mythic shade.

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MrBook
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#TBRtemptation post 10! Recently released. This book celebrates the witchiest women writers with beautiful illustrations and imaginative vignettes. You'll learn about Virginia Woolf, Mira Bai, Toni Morrison, Emily Dickinson, Octavia Butler, Sandra Cisneros, and many more, both beloved and new. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

Natasha.C.Barnes I went to college with the author! 7y
Heideschrampf Want! 7y
79 likes9 stack adds2 comments
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bookloo
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Misty!!! I wasn‘t expecting this. 😍🤗
___
If you‘re joining us, don‘t forget #BOTMbuddyread is this Sunday for #littlefireseverywhere on @Jess7 and @MinDea ‘s pages (just two more to go!), and then the 29th is when we start #Furies with @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks and I‘s turn at co-hosting.
___
Thank you for the super sweet #snailmail babe! 💛💛💛💛

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks You‘re welcome!!! 😘😘😘 I love sending #snailmail ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
32 likes1 comment
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kalinichta
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Load up your #TBR. Nine Books to Hex the Patriarchy from Bitch magazine: https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/witch-books-hex-patriarchy