As we near the painful anniversary of August 9th, I am reading a book about the creation of the atomic bomb. I happened to grab a bookmark with the quotation: "Some of the evil of my tale may have been inherent in our circumstances." ~T. E. Lawrence, SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM
It strikes me that what we read often illuminates what is happening, what has happened, or what could happen, showing us the parts of us that we most need to see. Literature is a mirror that takes our measure. Our stories tell us, for better or for worse, who we are.
'All too often, everyone jumps from problem (or need) to solution (or they start with a solution regardless of diagnosing the problem) without seeking to map and explain what drives or causes the problem in the first place.' #DeZinVanHetBoek#TheEssenceOfTheBook
Usually, if a story does not intrigue me by page 42, I put it down. Sometimes, though, I'll acknowledge that a story needs more time to take off. Gradually developing, meandering, it may slowly grow on me.
Or it just takes twice as long to decide it is still not for me.
At page 94, I'd gotten bored by too much repetition and too little character development, and appalled by some severe stereotyping.
#bookreview of Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake.
My rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Synopsis:
Iris Kelly has given up on dating after experiencing a few awful relationships. Ironically, she’s a new romance author working on her second novel, but has hit a road block because she has run out of ideas to write. She goes out to find a hook up (as is her usual routine) and goes home with a pretty girl just to end having the worst one night stand in her life.
Stevie Scott is a young, lesbian thespian (haha @ the rhyme) who just got out of a six-year long-term relationship six months ago. She has Generalized Anxiety Disorder and goes to the queer club with her non-binary friend to try and face her fear of talking to people so that she can learn to function without her ex. She meets a gorgeous red head, takes her home, and then vomits on her when she becomes too anxious and nervous.
Neither of the two women thought they would ever see the other again, but the world has a funny way of running things when Iris goes to audition for a play at a community theater… the same play where Stevie is the lead.
This book gives you fake dating, jealous exes, angst, feelings realization, miscommunication (or lack thereof), lots of internal conflict, and hot/steamy sex (if that’s your cup of tea).
This book also makes you think about societal expectations… like the expectation to get married and have a family, the expectation to choose one career over another, the expectation to be someone you’re not.
I really enjoyed this adult romance series. Idc much for romance, but it’s alright if it’s queer (especially if it’s sapphic).
Completely exhausted by the degenerate state of Muskworld so giving Mastodon a try. I'm currently a copywriter based in Cornwall. In September, I'm starting a PhD project at Falmouth University exploring the relationship between autism and crime fiction alongside a creative element developing a Cornish crime novel featuring an autistic detective
Would be good to connect with folks with shared interests:
Also, there are groups. The biggest one is @bookstodon but simply typing @ bookstodon will not get you there. You need the full address which is @ [email protected]. (I put a space after @ just to show you the non-shortened address, which will become a shortcut link after you hit send.)
This page can help you find groups, and there is one about autism which might interest you: https://a.gup.pe/
🔴 📖 Slow productivity worked for Marie Curie — here’s why you should adopt it, too
“Slow Productivity is a call to arms to reject the performative busyness of the modern workplace, where frequent virtual meetings and long email chains sap so much of workers’ attention. One exhausted postdoctoral researcher interviewed by Newport defined productivity, as it is currently measured in academia, as “ working all the time ”.”
🔴 📖 Books That Shook the Business World: The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt
“One way to enter Arendt’s thought is to read the final chapter of The Human Condition after the prologue. There she argues that modernity’s biggest conquest has been for technology to emancipate humanity from the “drudgery of life”. But this has turned into our biggest trap, since we have filled it with mindless consumption.”
"A young man, bored with his life and wondering about what might have been, is struck by lightning on a country road... the fun is in being along for the ride. I found myself hoping that there’s a sequel. 4 stars."
BUNNY is written by S.E. Tolsen, a husband and wife writing team, who won Best Horror Novel of 2023 in the Australian Aurealis Awards, making it to the longlist for the 2024 Ngaio Marsh awards based on it's thriller categorisation.
Last week on AustCrime was one of those rare ones where everything reviewed was good, everything read was excellent, and everything added to the piles much anticipated.
Book Challenge: 20 Books that have had an impact on who you are. One book a day for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, just book covers, with alt text.
Book Challenge: 20 books that have had an impact on who you are. One book a day for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, just book covers. (And don't forget the alt text.)
Book Challenge: 20 books that have had an impact on who you are. One book a day for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, just book covers. (And don't forget the alt text.)