pickI really enjoyed this book but didn't realize until the end that we wouldn't get a wrap up some key points and that there would be a sequel... that doesn't seem to be out yet.
But I did enjoy this one.... it felt kinda like cozy fantasy but with distinctly more plot than they normally have. Will definitely pick up the sequel and I dearly hope Sybilla shows up again.
pickVery beautifully written, and very dark. The teen angst/love got a little repetitive and annoying, but overall enjoyed it a lot.
bailedWell, at about 30% I‘m giving up. I am not finding this particularly funny, and I don‘t really like the main character. I know he‘s supposed to learn about who he is and grow as a person, but I‘m over it.
#hailthebail
For some reason I‘m very much in a slump. Eye racing more so than audio, though that‘s affected too. Going to try some print graphic novels to break the spell lol.
Turquoise - Magic 🩵 #PrideRec2025 @PuddleJumper
The top two series are favorites, with interesting magical systems and lovely romances at the heart. Then there are FT Luken's books, which aren't a series, but all have different magical aspects. Spell Bound is my favorite but they're all great in different ways ✨
Pen America “Banned In the USA“
Just looked through Pen America‘s “Banned in the USA” report and it's astounding how many books are being pulled, without any real process. Of course, many of the titles deal with identity, race, and queerness. It's not just bans but the quiet removals too. Makes you think about who gets to decide what stories are appropriate and what voices do or don't matter in schools.
pickWhat‘s there to say that hasn‘t been already said about this book. James Baldwin is one of my favorite people (he‘s one of the first people that I started to listen to his old interviews when I started my antiracism journey). His writing is so powerful & plays such an important role in American fiction.
pickJust finished this sitting in the precious winter sun. What a wonderful story. David tells us of his life in the 60s to Covid times. It seems to me a life well lived . The writing is beautiful. Set in England it also chronicles changing attitudes to gay people and dark skinned people. I heard the author on the radio and. Knew I wanted to read this book. I also loved his book The Line Of Beauty. Both ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I finished A CHOIR OF LIES while I cooked and ate kimchi udon, and ooooh boy. Great dish; great book. Rowland digs into some of my favourite themes, including how stories work, who gets to claim ownership over them, and how bias colours first person narration.
I know a lot of people on here consider first person lazy writing, but DUDE. Don‘t be a lazy reader; stay aware that YOU CANNOT TRUST FIRST PERSON NARRATORS, and so many layers open up.
