SteveClough

clacksee , 4 months ago to bookstodon

A different kind of #MutualAid request…

Are you in, the #UK, #Canada, or the #USA? I need some assistance from one reader in each of those countries, please.

What do you get out of this? A free book! An actual physical book! You can take your pick between the Starship Teapot books or the Vigilauntie Justice books.

What do I get out of this? To test my new website and fulfilment system!

Comment below or DM me and I'll send you instructions and a link.

@bookstodon

SteveClough , 4 months ago

@clacksee @bookstodon Starship teapot book? I am in the UK.

It sounds weird, which is exactly my bag.

weirdwriter , 4 months ago to bookstodon

So I'm reading Blood in the machine and actually think being called a Luddite is the highest complement you can give someone today. I encourage everyone to read Blood in the Machine. Luddites weren't technophobes. https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/brian-merchant/blood-in-the-machine/9780316487740/?lens=little-brown #Tech #Technology #Books @bookstodon

SteveClough , 4 months ago

@weirdwriter @bookstodon I am a Luddite. I work in Software dev, so when I tell people I am a luddite, they look ar me odd.

Mollysdailykiss , 4 months ago to bookstodon

If you have not read either of these books, then you really should.

Regardless of whether you like Non fic or not, if you are using this here big old interwebs, then honestly read them both. Start with Doppelganger and then read Code Dependant.

Is technology gonna destroy democracy? What about the whole of humanity?

These books made me worry, but both also gave hope for the future and the power of humanity and most of all communities.

@bookstodon

Front cover of the book Code Dependant by Maghumita Murgia which shows a Control keyboard button lit in purple and red

SteveClough , 4 months ago

@Mollysdailykiss @bookstodon I can't remember if I have read Doppelganger, but Klein is always a good read.

Schnuckster , 5 months ago to bookstodon

I was in the Gower Street Waterstones today, asking about where to find books on neurodiversity. Got told they could be in any of three or four places depending on the type of book it is. Made me wonder, when a bookshop is that big, wouldn't using Dewey decimal be a better option? #books #bookstodon @bookstodon 📚

SteveClough , 5 months ago

@Schnuckster @bookstodon I think one core reason is that they need to put thing they want to push at some time near the front.

And things like general fiction they know people will look for. So they can be further back.

So it is driven not by ease of finding but by marketing.

Libraries are more for finding a specific book you want, and then getting it, so Dewey is probably more suited to that.

But I get your pain.

NickEast , 5 months ago to bookbubble

This is why I'm not allowed to teach literature... anymore 😜😂

@humour
@reading @bookstodon @bookbubble @books

#English #Lit #LordOfTheFlies
#Mastobooks #BooksofMastodon #Bookwyrm #Bookworm #Book #Books #Bookstodon #BookLove #BoostingIsSharing

SteveClough , 5 months ago

@NickEast @humour @reading @bookstodon @bookbubble @books

I love this cartoon. So subtle and clever, with so few words.

NickEast , 5 months ago to writers

Reader/Writer question:
How do you write/enjoy accents and dialects in your books?
Do you just mention that there is a dialect or do you write it out? And which do you prefer a a reader? 🤔

@writers @writingcommunity @writing
@reading @bookstodon

#AmWriting #Author #Authors #IndieAuthor #IndieBooks #AmWriting #Writerdons #Writers #Writer #Writing #WritingCommunity #Writinglife #WritersOfMastodon
#Reading #Readers #ReadersOfMastodon #ReadingCommunity
#BoostingIsSharing

SteveClough , 5 months ago

@NickEast @writers @writingcommunity @writing @reading @bookstodon Generally not a fan of accents, because they are difficult to write and unless you know the accent, are not easily readable.

I prefer verbal ticks or phrases. So one of my characters said "'k'n'" - expressed as more of a tick than anything else. It might locate them for some people, but not for others.

kimlockhartga , 6 months ago to bookstodon

Have Y'all ever found a character in a graphic novel who kinda looks like you? @bookstodon #GraphicNovel

SteveClough , 6 months ago

@kimlockhartga @bookstodon No - I don't read horror graphic novels

eivind , 6 months ago to bookstodon

Reading in the foreword to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea that Verne originally envisioned Captain Nemo as a Polish noble on an underwater campaign of vengeance against the Russian Empire that'd killed his entire family, but that this version was pronounced unprintable by his publisher for political reasons. @bookstodon

SteveClough , 6 months ago

@Seanochicago @mattmcirvin @eivind @bookstodon In fairness, mortality was high in those days, so there is a possibility of one dying.

But there wasn't the same level of forensic assessment that we get these days. I am not saying it was better or worse, just different.

CommonMugwort , 6 months ago to bookstodon

@bookstodon Darling English audiobook readers, the ss sound at the end of ‘coup de grâce’ is pronounced. When you leave it off, it sounds like ‘coup de gras’ - not the blow of grace (mercy), but the blow of grease (fat).

SteveClough , 6 months ago

@CommonMugwort @bookstodon I mean, if I was doing it, it might well be a blow of grease....

kimlockhartga , 7 months ago to bookstodon

@bookstodon What's your favorite book title, whether you've read it or not?

Mine is EVERYONE ON THE MOON IS ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL, by Julian K. Jarboe, which I have not yet read, followed closely by THEY DON'T MAKE PLUS SIZE SPACESUITS, by Ali Thompson, which I have read.

SteveClough , 7 months ago

@kimlockhartga @bookstodon I struggle with this, because so many titles become well known, and so they are as surprising any more.

But I do think "The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of the Window and Disappeared" I always thought was a great title (and I quite liked the book as well)

desafinado , 7 months ago to bookstodon

Fun fact (at least in my observation): the word “Shire” appears nowhere in the text of “The Hobbit.”

@bookstodon #books

SteveClough , 7 months ago

@desafinado @bookstodon It is more about being "Home" - being his house - and not being home.

As someone pointed out - it is Hobbiton if he needed to name it, or "His own house" I think occurs.

But interesting fact that I didn't know.

skaeth , 7 months ago to bookstodon

What are your thoughts on DNF (Did Not Finish)-ing books? Do you feel guilty about it? Do you worry you missed out on something? Or are you confident in dropping a book and reaching for the next one?

At what point are you most likely to DNF, if ever? What sorts of things cause you to DNF?

My friend, book blogger Kriti, was musing on these questions a while back, and it sparked this new post: https://armedwithabook.com/dealing-with-dnf-the-practice-of-did-not-finish/

@bookstodon
#Bookstodon #Books #ReadingCommunity #BookBloggers #AmReading

SteveClough , 7 months ago

@skaeth @bookstodon It is a very rare thing for me to DNF a book. Mostly I finish, because I want to get to completion in my head.

There are only 2 I can think of that I DNF: Juliette by Marquis de Sade (A book so hideously awful and poorly written it was agony to churcn through the turgid, abusive work); and Prousts "In Search of Lost Things" (Life is too short. I think I did pretty well, in truth.)

SteveClough , 7 months ago

@skaeth @bookstodon Yes and no. A book has to grab me, give me a reason for wanting to read it. But that is an emotional and speedy decision. So that is not highly selective, but if I have read the same story before (so many SFF works are telling the same story) I just won't bother.

Tim_McTuffty , 7 months ago to actuallyautistic

Diary of an ASD Squirrel. Day 91 Saturday 26/01/24

TL:DR Lazy buggers , read the entry, it’s like a dozen lines long !

Today has been a longish day, I was up around 4:30 had a nice chat with CDP 🧚‍♀️, have driven 160 miles, met up with family, been amazed at how quickly my nephews & niece have grown up & had a delicious meal .

In short a good day.

I’m totally knackered though so am going to be a total party pooper & sod off to bed.

Final Thoughts.

Once upon a time being sent to bed this early was a punishment, now it’s a relief!

How sad am I !

Thank you to all those who are helping me on this journey, in a myriad different ways. I am thankful to each & every one of you! 🫂 🫶🐿️🖖

@actuallyautistic
#TimsASDjourney #ActuallyAutistic #TheMammutMoves

SteveClough , 7 months ago

@Tim_McTuffty @DoubleTreble @actuallyautistic In fairness, that is me - struggling to get out. But I am sure you could drive a pumpkin home anyway.

beecycling , 7 months ago to bookstodon

After enjoying R.F. Kuang's Yellowface so much, I'm now reading Babel - which I got from the library. It's a 500+ page honker, and the library copy is a hardback so I can't exactly slip it in my pocket to carry around. It's definitely an at home read. Enjoying it so far. She has a very readable style. @bookstodon

SteveClough , 7 months ago

@olliethewobbly @beecycling @bookstodon It is good. It is very challenging, but also a great read.

And yes, not a small book to slip in your pocket!