mooncyclereader

[mooncyclereader]

I think past me, like before 20, would be surprised i have started reading non fiction, like Gay Berlin by Robert Beachy, or more "Reflective" fiction such as The Handmaiden's tale by Margaret Atwood and Irving Stone's The Agony and The Ectasy.

When i was younger i used to read solely for escapism, and the more i think about it the more i realize that i wasn't retaining anything from those reads except some general lessons. Mind you i did use to read serious books. I read books about running away from concentration camps, i read books about the rise and fall of the URSS, i read books about self discovery, about fighting for yourself and others.

But the more i think about it the more i realize that those are the books that stayed with me, even if they weren't nonfiction and even if they were far and few in between. But i also read a lot (a lot more) of Fantasy books and i have to admit i remember very little about those. The only one i still think about is A Song Of Ice And Fire.

Now i read significantly less fantasy. I think past me would be surprised to see that i'm not hiding in an imaginary world anymore. I'm not scared anymore. I am running towards life and not away from it.

Weekly Bookish Question #447 (June 22nd - June 28th, 2025)

Is there a book past you would really be surprised present you has read? What is it? (If not, what do you think are the chances of there being one in the future?)

[mooncyclereader]

PLOT :

All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.

Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.

Rating : 2.5 (DNF)

SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT

This was a big let down personally speaking. I have been looking forward to this book since 2013 and have been waiting for it to appear in my country's book shelves...only to be massively disappointed by it.

Where to begin...let's start with what bothered me the most.

The Shallow World Building:

When i opened the book i was graced to the sight of a map. Two actually! And i do love when maps are included as it helps me understand what lengths we are going from point A to point B, as my spacial imagination is a bit lacking. But in this world the map feels useless. Sure the names of places are very different, but that's where the differences end! If you told me that the Scirland and England are the same place, or that Vystrana and Bulgaria are also the same, i wouldn't bat an eye. The author did nothing but simply slap some different names on a scribbled map and call it a day. Besides the presence of Dragons there is nothing that makes this world distinguishable from the Edwardian era of our own. Now i'm not opposed to taking inspiration from the real world when writing your own, but for god's sake unless you are writing an urban fantasy or a "parallel universe" fantasy, at least *try* to make your world look distinguishable and unique instead of simply putting some big creatures in it.

Which is also something that should influence your world btw!! You mean to tell me that in a world where these enormous creatures exist, people just go an set up a village in the middle of nowhere with a high population of them around? The existence of Dragons has litterally *no* impact on the world's technological or social development and advancements. One can argue that they are considered animals like any others, except they are clearly not??

Anyway in conclusion this world felt so so flat and boring it took me right out.

The Protagonist and other Characters:

Isabella has a major "Not like other girls" issue. Now i understand that it is a bit of a standard when you set up your female character in a world that resembles our past, where women where expected to be wives and mothers and no much more. But i have read my fair share of books with historical settings where the female protagonist didn't feel so outright annoyingly bratty. She is constantly pointing out how "Most wome would do this or think that or react this way - But not *I* because *I* am different and a bit insane" Ok girl settle down you litterally met other women who have an interest in science, you aren't *that* special. And let's not touch on how she talks about women from a different ethnicity....this book reeks of classism, but it sorta makes sense in context so i was trying to ignore it.

Secondly all the male characters are such token boring people that add litterally nothing to the story and are just stepping stools for Isabella to use to get from one part of the story or the other, especially her husband.

The Story:

I got up to mid book and it had been very little about the actual dragons and more about society and social expectations and when it came to the travel it skipped most of it till they reached the village and then it kept talking about disorganized travel conditions and stuff. We met the dragons once or twice and then it evolved in to some luck luster myste about the superstitions of the village instead of actually getting to study the dragons. I was looking forward to an immerisive experience pretending that Dragons were a real thing and with in debth analysis on how they influence the world around them and i got *nothing.*

[mooncyclereader]

Weekly Bookish Question #445 (June 8th - June 14th, 2025)

Do you think there is such a thing as reading too much? And if so, when has a person reached that level?

[mooncyclereader]

Spin this wheel first and then this wheel second to generate the title of a YA fantasy novel!

(If the second wheel lands on an option ending with a plus sign, spin it again)

Share what you got!

[mooncyclereader]

Some observations on book covers

Edit because apparently this needs to be said: the point of a book cover is to tell you what you're about to read and whether or not you want to read it. Following trends in cover design doesn't mean the book is bad or had a bad cover designer. It's visual communication. I've read and enjoyed about half the books featured here.

[mooncyclereader]

literary kinsey scale time

i’m just curious what mix of fiction and nonfiction the average tumblrina is consuming

[mooncyclereader]

i'm not saying people shouldn't be reading more books, but i do think it's funny how many people thinking "reading comprehension" is just about how good you are at reading books and not like. criticial thinking skills.

[mooncyclereader]

Protection.

[mooncyclereader]

I think the hot new trends for this summer should be reading comprehension and critical thinking skills

[mooncyclereader]

I was thinking about annotating and i went through my old books and some newer ones and the difference is hilarious.

My old annotating style :

- A lot of highlights, lot of tabbing, reaction stickers, colorful pens to underline. A true maximalist dream. (Photos from my copy of Phantom of the opera.)

Vs.

My current style : Single black pen, minimal tabbing. ( Photos from my copy of The Handmaiden's Tale)

I made this change of style mostly for comfort, having to carry around a bunch of pens and highlights and tabs is an hassle even if i don't have to move around a lot. Also having to every time have to stop to find the correct color in my pencil holder is a chore.

I'm still finding my way, i still enjoy tabbing and i still enjoy colors.

Perhaps i can try find one of those big multi color pen, i have some with 4 colors ( black, red, blue, green) but i want one of those with a lot lot od colors.

Like one of these.

I definitely won't use highlighters tho they rub dry so quickly.

[mooncyclereader]

I do actually! Especially nowadays with the arrival of Booktok, which in part i appreciate because it brings young people to read, and in part i condemn because it turned reading into challenges and book counts and competition. I know people that feel ashamed to admit they have read only one book in one month, and people proudly declaring they have read 60 books in the same amount of time, with that smug attitude of someone who thinks themselves better than- only to find out they didn't read them truly and only skimmed most of it or focused solely on the dialogues. I think as a community we need to go back on focusing on the quality and enjoyment of our reads and not the amount of it.

Weekly Bookish Question #445 (June 8th - June 14th, 2025)

Do you think there is such a thing as reading too much? And if so, when has a person reached that level?

[mooncyclereader]

It's wild how "women are reading frivolous and immoral novels that are rotting their brains" is such an evergreen moral panic. You'd think we'd have figured this one out by now.

[mooncyclereader]

I would be delighted if anyone wanted to ask me things

Ask Game for us Self-proclaimed BOOK WORMS 📖🐛

Name the best book you've read so far this year.

Favorite fantasy book(s).

Favorite fantasy sub-genre(s). (high fantasy, urban fantasy, portal fantasy etc.)

Favorite science fiction book(s).

Favorite science fiction sub-genre(s). (dystopian, superhero, aliens etc.)

Favorite romance novel(s).

What kind of common romance tropes do you enjoy and what kind do you dislike?

Favorite queer fiction book(s).

Favorite detective novel(s).

Favorite classical literature.

Favorite historical fiction.

Favorite horror book(s).

Favorite thriller(s).

Favorite humor and satire book(s).

Which genre(s) are your favorite?

Favorite trilogy.

Favorite finished book series.

Favorite unfinished book series.

Do you read new and less known books or only the big bestsellers?

Where and how do you find new books to read?

The book(s) on your school reading list you actually enjoyed.

Favorite example of a Chosen One trope in a book.

Favorite heist story book(s).

Favorite Young Adult book(s).

Favorite Middle Grade book(s).

Favorite novella(s).

What was the first book you remember reading as a kid?

Goodreads or StoryGraph (or something else)?

How many books do you have on your 'to-be-read' list?

How many books do you have on your 'currently-reading' list?

Do you mostly read through e-reader; reading app on phone; on your laptop; a physical copy; or by audiobook?

Name your favorite author(s).

How often do you read by listening to audiobooks?

Favorite book narration voice actor(s).

Least favorite trope in your most favorite book genre.

Your absolute most favorite character(s) from any book you've ever read.

The only example of your least favorite trope being written in such a way that you enjoyed it.

How many books have you read this year?

Do you read reviews before picking up a book?

Did you ever want to be a writer?

When you get ready for a week long trip to somewhere how many books do you download/pack inside the suitcase?

Do you buy hardcover book copies for previously purchased paperbacks and library books you enjoyed reading?

Title of a book you own that's in the worst physical condition you have. Explain what happened to it. Post a picture if you want.

The book(s) whose stories have become part of your very makeup.

What book(s) would you sell your soul to get a TV or movie adaptation of?

I like _____, recommend me a book to read, please (insert a book, or trope, or character, or... anything you like before asking for this one).

What are the last three books you read?

Do you leave reviews for the books you've read? How often?

Do you prefer hopeful, humorous, very emotional or darker books?

What kind of book have you never read but always hope to find at some point in the future?

[mooncyclereader]

I'm bored and in a chatty mood so

EXPLORE MY BOOK SHELF

An estimate of how many physical books I own: I actually counted them last month and it's 276 at the moment!

Favorite author Right now: Hard to say because i tend to not read more than one work per author. To the risk of being basic i will say Gorge RR Martin because i have been pretty obsessed with game of thrones since i was 14 XD.

A popular book I've never read and never intend to read: So many lmao. Probably The Song of Achille? I bought it out of FOMO when it was really popular, and because i love the Iliad, but i read more than one review that spoke of the role of Patroclo in the book and it's iffy to be sincere. Also personally i kinda blame this book for this trend of greek retellings happening that is genuinely starting to piss me off.

A popular book I thought was just meh: The House on The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. Like it was a cute book but the amount of praises i saw towards it was a bit eccessive? It's an ok book, a fun little read, but it was nothing groundbreaking. The romance was cute tho, wish some of the children had been better fleshed out.

Longest book I own: Night Runner by Lynn Flewellig which is around 1060 pages long. But it's like 3 books in one- Not my idea, my mother bought it for me on my birthday, because i mentioned i wanted to read it and decided to get the deluxe version which i'm like...why would you do that?

Longest series I own all the books to: A Song of Ice and Fire by GRRM. Read them all in a year when i was 14.

Prettiest book I own: Probably my edition of The phantom of the opera, but not because it's actually pretty, but because the cover *was* ugly af, and i was embarrassed to read it outside, so i printed a bunch of stuff off of pinterest and made a collage on the original cover and created my own unique Phantom of the opera cover. If you want i can post it!

A book or series I wish more people knew about: This one book Swedish book serie called The Engelfors trilogy by Sara B. Elfgren and Mats Strandberg. It's an adult supernatural thriller that i recommend if you enjoy books were everyone is awful and actions have sometimes horrible consequences. I was actually considering buying it to read read it as i read it when i was in high school at my local Library. Be sure to check the trigger warnings tho!!

Book I'm reading now: Natural History of Dragons- The memoir of Lady Trent. Started it yesterday, honestly very cute so far it reminds me of Miss Charity by Marie Aude Murail but with dragons. I have actually been waiting for this book for a long time but it wasn't available in my country till last month.

Book that's been on my TBR list for a while but I still haven't got around to it: Probably "The Glass Painter's Daughter" by Rachel Hore. Bought it at 16 when i went to england for the first time wanting to have a book in English and never read it because i was too intimidated by reading a book in a whole other language, but now that i consider myself pretty handy with it i think i could easily read it next and finally get it out of the dusty TBR shelf.

Do you have any books in a language other than English: Well um...all of them? English isn't my first language. Italian is. So the vast majority of books i own are in Italian. Some are in French or English.

Paperback, hardcover, or ebook?: Hardcover, i like breaking the spine. But i also love paperback because it's easier to take around. I hate ebook. I hate reading digitally, i even print the fanfics i read because i genuinely can't stan reading on a screen it makes my eyes hurt.

[mooncyclereader]

ANNOTATE YOUR BOOKS!!! DONT BE AFRAID

USE HIGHLIGHTERS AND STICKY NOTES AND TAB THEM AND WRITE IN THEM AND DOODLE IN THEM AND MAKE ANALYSIS IN THE MARGINS AND JOKE WITH YOURSELF. MAKE YOUR BOOKS PERSONAL AND MAKE THEM IDENTIFIABLE AS UNDENIABLY A PRODUCT OF YOUR READING EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mooncyclereader]

hardcover or paperback // bookstore or library // bookmark or receipt // stand alone or series // nonfiction or fiction // thriller or fantasy // under 300 pages or over 300 pages // ya or adult // friends to lovers or enemies to lovers // read in bed or read on the couch // read at night or read in the morning // keep pristine or markup // cracked spine or dog ear

tagging @honey-and-sweetdreams !