#2023 reading

[dearorpheus]

“I am writing this in 2021, 700 years after the death of Dante.  Dante’s Divine Comedy, completed in 1320, a year before he died, begins with the most famous book, The Inferno, where Dante is taken on a tour of Hell, with its 9 circles of horror, each one a kind of Behaviourist operant chamber, where nothing can ever change, where the same miseries and the same responses are acted out every day, because that’s what hell is - a place where nothing can change. At the end of Book 3, Paradiso, Dante sees the divine vision. At last he sees what ‘is’. The fundamental reality. And it’s not God is Logic. It’s not God is Thought. It’s not Descartes’ res cognita (a thinking thing). It is this: ‘L’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle.’ ‘The love that moves the sun and the other stars.”

— Jeanette Winterson, 12 Bytes: How We Got Here. Where We Might Go Next

[monniearc]

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie, page. 293

[alchemie-tarot]

2023: What’s on the horizon for you?

Happy New Year, everyone! 🎆 Giving you all virtual high-fives and energetic hugs. I’ve been seeing in my timeline a lot that people are getting into their soft eras. I liked that so much, I picked out this set of purple-pink skies I captured that I initially had for a different pick-a-card topic. Makes you slow down and watch in awe.

May this year treat you beautifully. 💜

Feel free to choose the pile/s that call out to you. Some details may not resonate with you since this is a general reading. As always, nothing is set in stone, so please don’t take it too seriously.

Pile 1

The Emperor (back of the deck), 6 of Swords, The Tower, 9 of Wands

2022 has been all about control and structure in your life. You've created a routine that enables you to complete your day-to-day tasks seamlessly. It could even be that you’ve perfected some kind of system for yourself. You’ve been handling things in a practical approach more than anything. Once you have set your mind to something, you don’t budge. 

None of the knowledge you have absorbed has gone to waste. You’ve learned so much because of this dedication. “Bulletproof” came to mind. Any attempts to thwart your plans probably bounce off you, as if you’re made of steel. I have a feeling that there was a need for you to instill such discipline in your life, but at this point, you may have been taking these rules a little too seriously. 

Seeing how you like to keep your feet planted on the ground, I believe you need to buckle up for a change, Pile 1. You may not be the type to shake things up from time to time, but there will be a lot of movement in your life this year. It may feel like a rug pulled from under your feet. There is an element of surprise. I feel that most of you may not like to hear that, and I apologize if it causes you distress. 

You must know that this change is inevitable and it will manifest one way or another. Despite everything, though, I can see you riding it out. You will make this transition, even if you had to endure some strong discomfort for it. I assure you that you won’t be alone in this. Please don’t be afraid. The ways of the past are about to crumble because they won’t work anymore in contrast to the blazing potential ahead of you. It’s time to learn how to use your determination and willpower without letting them get the best of you. I have complete faith in you, Pile 1. I never see you back down and that already speaks volumes. Hang in there.

Pile 2

The High Priestess (back of the deck), King of Wands, 7 of Cups, Page of Cups, 9 of Wands

Splendid work getting to know who you are on a deeper level for the past year. It’s not an easy journey to go within but kudos to you, Pile 2, because I can see that you’ve learned to trust yourself and let go of the need to control every little thing. Balancing the burden of knowledge with self-compassion is key in this development. You may have spent a great deal in solitude, and look at you having thrived in it! Your Higher Self is radiant and they thank you for taking action, Pile 2.

Now, having shifted into the new year, your focus on your inner world is about to shift as well. The universe encourages you to get back out there. It’s time to get your head out of the clouds and come back down to earth. You know what you want now, having realized them during your period of reflection, and the next step is to turn them into a concrete action plan. I can see that manifesting them in a swift and bold way, owning exactly how you want things to be, is what would work wonders for you.

I really love your energy so far, Pile 2. Dazzling opportunities come your way precisely because they mirror you. There’s so many to choose from, all you have to do is take your pick. You’re a boiling pot of creativity and innovative ideas by yourself. 

It doesn’t even stop there because I can see you becoming a source of inspiration for many others. People who may have struggles that are similar to yours in the past will see how amazingly in touch you are with yourself now. What a balm to their soul. An embrace of assurance and a breath of fresh air. You have filled your own cup by putting yourself first. This has then enabled you to help others by sharing yourself, led by the right mind and the right heart.

Pile 3

Knight of Wands (back of the deck), 6 of Wands, 8 of Swords, Queen of Cups, Justice

You’ve made 2022 your oyster, Pile 3. You worked hard and played hard– this would differ for each person, of course, depending on your definition of work and play. It doesn’t have to be related to your job or your studies. It could also mean that you have broken through your confines and started something new in your life, or pursued what you’re passionate about. Whatever it was, it has given you a lot of freedom. So much fearless exploration, and it’s like all those months flew by so fast. What a rich year it has been for you!

You’re coming out on top, and as the new year ushers in, your achievements will be in plain sight. You did it, Pile 3! You’re gonna make it! The world will see how you flourished and admire all the progress you’ve made. Bask in it as you deserve. Remember, though, that gratitude goes a long way in helping the seeds that you have planted grow fruit. Be careful not to let your confidence tip into arrogance.

There is a message here about you not being in touch with your intuition. You may have been ignoring something your gut has been telling you, or you may have deemed any time of quiet and introspection unimportant. Pile 3, it seems to be related to a big, unresolved aspect of your life that can have long-term consequences. I feel that many of you would rather not face it.

Alright, I know I said that things in your life are about to reach a fever pitch, but there is advice for you to pause and go inwards for a bit, or this excitement will risk some kind of explosion— a revelation you may not be ready for. Your inner compass seems to fluctuate more than it is stable. Your success won’t be going anywhere, you know, so don’t worry about it disappearing if you take some time away in order to reflect. Ease into it and remember to be fair to yourself. 

Pile 4

King of Pentacles (back of the deck), The Empress, Knight of Swords, 8 of Pentacles Rx

I swear, this year has been all about the hustle for so many of you. If you felt like looking at Pile 1, its message has some similarities to this pile. Anyway, it goes without saying that you’ve been really getting that bread. Congratulations! In a fast-paced and competitive world where it’s hard enough to put one foot in front of the other, you got yourself out there with a discipline that wasn’t easy to cultivate, and you’re rewarded for it. Well done, Pile 4.

This year, it’s time for you to stop and take some time off to smell the roses. Go on a walk, eat something delicious that fills your stomach, and indulge in the luxuries you’ve set aside for so long. Create something with your hands that follows no criteria other than to please yourself. Relax! Relaaax. I say it like that because even though you’re fully entitled to this R & R, you still seem to be quite restless. Your guard is up as if you’re ready for some kind of combat. It’s like, you’re on your phone, waiting and mildly dreading the next thing to do even though it hasn’t come up yet, instead of clicking it shut and turning it face down.

Pile 4. You may have forgotten to live your life, but life hasn’t forgotten about you. You’re being called to freshen up and let your material pursuits and burdens take a rest for a while. Frolic into that imagination of yours and explore the more pleasurable side of your life. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. I bet you can get into the mundane and find the simple things that can make you smile, or remind you of the bigger picture. If it helps, you can still think of keeping your time of play and health in tiptop shape as a form of progress, too. Never mind if society tends to downplay it. Take it easy, Pile 4. You’ll thank yourself later.

Pile 5

The Devil (back of the deck), Strength, Queen of Pentacles, The Sun, The Emperor, Ace of Wands

2022 may have been one of the most nerve-wracking years of your life. I’ll go ahead and say that for some of you, it may have even been the worst. In several ways, you’ve felt trapped, empty, and powerless to change it. You may have been just waiting for it to drag along, putting your hopes into the new year. I’m so sorry to hear that, Pile 5. All you wanted was a little peace in so much chaos. For some, this year you came face-to-face with your demons.

You handled it with so much courage, Pile 5. I can see it shining from you like a ray of light. From the dark night and into the bright morning, you saw your vices illuminated before you and then gently, but firmly, held yourself accountable to them. Working with blockages isn’t an overnight thing. Still, as the Strength card depicts, you tamed that lion not with force, but with grace. It wasn’t easy at all, but you did it. You have no idea how much progress you made. I’m so, so proud of you.

If only I could properly convey the magnitude of blessings coming to you, Pile 5. Whatever it is, it’s gonna make you so happy. I’m telling you, the goods will be flowing and your aura’s gonna shine. “Money can't buy happiness?” Not for you, because this will surely open doors for you. For a few, it doesn’t have to be about finances, but a state of being grounded and surefooted enough to let your hair down. If you think it’s too good to be true, the cards clearly indicate a stability that will take its sweet time, but it will ultimately ease you into experiencing, more easily, a renewed life force. Joy.

This pile is unbelievable. I only meant to pull three cards, but five fell and three of them are the big Major Arcana energies. Honestly so extra (and I mean it as a compliment). Going back. You’ll have the time of your life, but it doesn’t just stop there. You’ll be building such an enterprise for yourself, you will end up being the boss of something. I think that, when you’ve been revitalized, your visions and creative ideas will also be brought into the light. Promising action plans and strong executions. Hot damn, you’re on fire. You’ll probably surprise yourself a lot throughout this. Blaze that trail, Pile 5. Believe me, it’s happening.

Pile 6

2 of Cups (back of the deck), Queen of Wands, The Tower, The Magician

You’ve found love this 2022. Whether it’s a romance, a trustworthy friend, a promising partnership, or an activity that makes you happy to be alive, you gained genuine connection with someone or something this year. This came at the right moment, when you needed it most, and brought you out of the dumps. A balance of give-and-take that you rarely encounter in your life. Your synchronicity with one another is effortless.

You make quite the force to be reckoned with together. I see that this connection encourages you to come out of your shell. The presence of the other party (whether an individual or an activity) strengthens your will to make a reality out of your wishes. You find new and surprising ways to make use of your resources, and your manifestation skills are skyrocketing. The possibilities are infinite. You may feel unstoppable.

This connection is not without trials and tribulations, though. There’s something significant about change here– not just a simple, day-to-day change, but radical change. For an individual connection, it could be that you’ve never been with someone like them. You may be different from one another in terms of culture and race. For an activity, you could have bonded with a craft that your peers would have found unexpected– not necessarily taboo, but quite peculiar. Either way, this connection is so fated, it can well shake your ground to its foundation. 

I really get the sense that pursuing this for the long-term could really change your life. Even if you decide not to, you still may feel as if nothing will be the same as before. What you must know, though, is that this seems to demand all-or-nothing, so you must prepare carefully should you decide to jump headfirst. I have to admit, I could sense all kinds of risks in this path, but make no mistake that there will be its share of rewards as well. Just always be discerning, Pile 6. Go for your beautiful, unpredictable, and powerful truth.

🎆 🎆 🎆 🎆 🎆 🎆

Thank you for taking the time to interact with this reading. Feel free to let me know how you thought of it! It really helps to hear about how it resonated, or not; the details that popped out to you. You are part of the magic, after all.

Stay safe!

[a-ramblinrose]

JOMP Book Photo Challenge || January 1 || Reading Goals:

 To read. That’s all. I’ve found over the last couple of years that I end up focusing too much on an arbitrary number instead of just loving what I’m reading when I have an exact goal. The only reason I typed an random number into the goodreads challenge this year is for the widget. I do like knowing my book count even when it doesn’t really matter. :P 

[whentherewerebicycles]

favorite things I read in 2023:

emily tesh, some desperate glory. I’m making myself wait a couple months before I reread but gosh I really, really loved this one. GOSH every once in a while you stumble across a book that feels like it was written exactly for you and this one was for meeeeee. earth is destroyed by aliens. the last remnants of humanity live aboard a crumbling space station where genetically engineered children are raised to be super-soldiers in a militaristic death cult. the sci-fi world/history itself is fascinating but mostly this is a book about like idk cultural trauma and brainwashing and kids learning how to be human again. if you, like me, go absolutely feral over ender’s game, you will love this book.

tasmyn muir, the locked tomb series. I can’t decide if harrow or nona was my favorite but I stayed up so late reading these and my jaw was just on the floor about how thematically and structurally daring these works are. I’ve never read anything this ambitious by a relatively new-to-the-scene novelist. also I’d die for camilla and palamedes godddd rip my fucking HEART out why don’t you. I want to take a graduate seminar where we just read and analyze and write papers about these books lol.

douglas stuart, young mungo. so, so gutting. don’t waste your time with his first novel, as he was clearly still working out how to make a book. pleased to report he figured it out with the second and the results are just aaaaaa extremely painful.

naomi novik, uprooted. gorgeous, immersive folktale-inspired fantasy. my goodreads pals either loved this one or loathed it so ymmv but I really liked it. unfortunately I then went on a novik kick and read her abysmally bad scholomance trilogy which slightly soured me on her. but this one… good!

katherine addison, the goblin emperor. this was a book in which nothing much happened and yet you never wanted it to end because you liked the protagonist so much.

and a few honorable mentions:

john williams’s stoner—a reread but man it still packs a punch. so simple and yet so rich

samanta schweblin’s fever dream and grace chan’s every version of you which were stylistically very different but both kinda trippy speculative fiction that really got under my skin & freaked me out

tracy deonn’s legendborn. very solid YA with great characters although I tapped out of the trilogy—the books were a little too long and I’m not into arthurian stuff enough to feel really hooked by the magical world.

neil gaiman’s neverwhere. can you tell I was really leaning hard into sci-fi and fantasy this year lol. this was also a reread but I hadn’t revisited it since maybe high school?? a looong time ago. just a delight.

I also read a ton of books on fertility, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, and parenting, but for the most part none of them were anything to write home about apart from a silent sorrow (so good, so moving, so humane—really gave me a language and a framework for thinking about a painful human experience). I also liked how to raise a boy although at this stage in my life I felt like it was most useful as fic research lol. it gave me some great ideas for writing male characters!

[manuscripts-dontburn]

Among all the other lists I have almost forgotten to share the most important one!

[thoughtfulfangirling]

Some absolute highlights from He Who Drowned the World:

Everything about Zhu and Ouyan's interactions for the first half of the book

In particular, Ouyang thinking Zhu made too ugly of a girl to be convincing

Baixong becoming such a major character. I liked him in book one quite a bit, so it was thrilling to see him step up so high in the narrative

How Baixong is a straight man playing the part of a gay man to be intimate and make the Third Prince love him for his protection, and how he ends up genuinely, deeply loving him back even though it's not at all romantic

Generally the amount of deep platonic love in this tbh. Zhu's love for Xu Da is so entrenched, he's become a part of her. For almost the first third of the book, we don't even really spend much time on Zhu and Ma's love (it's there, but it just doesn't take precedent)

The way Zhu loves Ouyang not because of their relationship but because of what she sees in him/herself. How much she wishes to forge a connection. That though her feelings are completely platonic, she seems to see him like a soulmate

The slow realization that conversations with Zhu almost opens up a world of other possibilites for Ouyang he never considered. He gets so close to getting it. But as usual, he's just too self destructive to get there

The whole scene of Lady Ki's downfall. WHAT A SCENE!

The way characters can cause bad things to happen, and even though they are indirect, both the narrative and characters themselves hold those characters responsible. It may not be their hands that inflicted the moment of death, but they are responsible.

Zhu finally fully realizing that while she will sacrifice anything for her desires, the cost might instead be paid by others and having to reassess how much she's willing to have those others sacrifice for her

How this queer book written by a queer author decided to give a major part, one that experience Otherness very similar to those who are queer, to an effeminate straight man. To make that space in this kind of book to acknowledge how these kinds of expectations can harm so many because rigid expectations always have too small a box to fit in for most.

THAT LAST SCENE!! How Zhu made the riskier choice because she's learned there is more kindness in her than she thought. How that kindness frees two people in the span of just a couple of pages before her reign even beings.

That she rises to the top in the garb and, after having lived briefly, as a slave. The lowest of the low taking her seat on the throne

I just really really loved this book. This duology. I could make some complaints, but at the end of the day, I loved way more things than I disliked.

Okay, just had to get that out of my system

[royaleofury]

☃A Glance at 2023

How are you all? In simple words, I want to take you to take a glance at what 2023 has for you. Each pile is divided in 3 sub sections: career/academics, love life and advice. Enjoy ☘️

How to Choose a Pile: Take a deep breath and choose the picture that you are most attracted to. Even after this, if you are not able to choose a picture, take 3 deep breath, and the picture on which your eyes land after opening it, that's your pile.

The pictures go from left to right ➥

By the time, 2023 arrives, if any of these messages resonate to you, feel free to drop an ask about it☘️Let's Go!!

❆ Pile 1

Career/Academics

Knight of cups and 10 of swords

Both the cards are indicating a truly different story. I guess, this pile has people carrying a totally different vibe, energy, etc. from each other. Those who are choosing this pile, may feel like this is not your reading but the energy here is so contrasting.

Moving on the with the reading, I am getting that if you are someone who is still in college/school/institutions, it will be a favourable period for you. There are lots of opportunities waiting for you in the upcoming year, especially lots of projects, like group projects and many solo projects too, but take care of one thing that if you are someone who takes the burden of the whole group project alone, then DO NOT DO IT! People may try to handover their workload to you, so be careful and refuse rightaway if such circumstances occur. Apart from that, I am also getting that many of you can change schools or colleges in 2023, you will meeting lots of new people and making some genuine good friends. There's a chance that you may become the "Miss/Mr popular".

If you are someone who has already completed their studies and looking for jobs, then trust me, it's a beautiful year for you. You will be getting ample of opportunities to work in different companies, and places. I see that some sort of connections that you have build in the past may help you in getting a job. This can resonate to most of you but there's also a section of people in this pile , who are already doing some sort of job but are drained and exhausted themselves to great extent. Some of them event want to change jobs, so if that's the case, change you jobs and heal yourself. Just take some time off and think what you really want to do and give it a thought. You do not need validation, ask yourself about how you are feeling and if you can continue being like this anymore. Refrain from taking advices from others because they will not be helping you much, rather they will just create more chaos.

Love life

The Fool and 10 of wands

As I told, this pile has so many contradictory messages, anyways. For some of you, there could be a new crush or you someone who happen to see for the first time and you develop some feelings for them. There's this blow of fresh feelings, I sense here. But , it may take you some time to realise your feelings for them and move on to the confession phase. You may act all giddy and naive around that person but refuse to acknowledge that there's some sort of connection between you two.

For others, if you are someone who works hard and doesn't give a damn about love and relationships but at the same time, wants a gf/bf, then you have to take out time for it. You just cannot ask someone to show interest in you when you all drowned in work all day long. You have to put efforts and let people know that you are looking for a serious long term relationship. Apart from them, I am also sensing that some of you, I mean very small section of people in this pile are already in relationship but are having trouble because either you or your partner are always busy and doesn't seem to put much efforts into the relationship. Either you talk it out or move on from the relationship because it's not benefitting you or the other person in any way. I am sorry to say but you are wasting time.

Advice

You need to bring balance and harmony in your life. Put equal efforts into those all things that you are passionate about. Be equally good to everyone and don't be biased towards one thing or person. If you are confused about something or having trouble in selecting a particular path, try to go on both the paths one by one to get a bit of idea as to what you are are comfortable with.

For some of you, there's another message that you don't need to worry about what's going to happen in the future. Just do you do everyday and leave everything to God/guides/ancestors. Just surrender to them and keep doing on what you do everyday. By worrying too much about future, you are failing to focus on what is important to you in the present. Everything will come to you when the right time comes.

❆ Pile 2

Career/Academics

Knight of swords and 5 of Pentacles

I am sensing that for some of you, next year will be a year where you have to face all sorts of obstacles, only for the best to come for you. You will come across lots of challenges, overnight work, etc. but you have to face them all with determination and dedication. You can even become class monitor/school head/college president/ etc. in the next year, if you want to pursue them. But the main focus is that you have to be brave and courageous, because good things will not come easily, there will be many lurking eyes around your success , but you have to grab them right and not let it go. Don't back down if you have already promised someone for something because it can make people hold grudges around you, which can create problems later on. I am also seeing lots of competitions and other programs being held next year in your college/school and I see you participating in them and even if you don't have any intentions of participating in them , then you should because there's a great chance of you developing your self confidence by doing such programs. It will be a great opportunity for you to make se memories through such competitions.

For those who are already doing some sort of business or jobs, it may not be that much of a good period of you all. You all, may lose job or there can be some sort of loss in your business. You may make some regretful decisions which can be harmful for both you and people around you. Therefore, you have to be careful as to what will be doing next. You may also make a hasty decision and leave a job, so think twice before making such decisions. Try to spend less money on items that are not needed as the moment. I was getting anxious with this part, so I decided to pull another card, and I got The World, therefore, you need to too worried about what I said above, just be careful and everything will turn out good. You may find people trying to advise you or lend you some help when you will need it the most.

Love life

Knight of cups and 7 of cups

Next year will bring new people and with that will bring new love interests. Someone very charming and creative will be coming towards you, leaving you in awe, because you will be all over this person. Fresh and lots of butterflies will be whirling in your stomach when you will see this person. You may feel like that THIS IS THE ONE FOR ME. Take things slowly and steadily and look out for red flags because the knight of cups is followed by 7 of cups. Everything may seem too good to be true because it is. You need to see if that person really deserves you or are they just playing with you because there's a tendency of you being blinded by love and not looking for any defaults in that person. Make decisions only after you have known everything about that person, there's no need to rush this moment.

For others, who are already in relationship, I see that there's something that you are forgetting to see or look out for. Something, very important and must! I pulled out another card for this one and I got 7 of wands. This can mean that you need to put healthy boundaries in your relationship. If your partner is invading your privacy or not respecting you in any way, by saying " THIS IS HOW A RELATIONSHIP IS", then you shouldn't go by what they say. You need to immediately stand up for yourself and let them know what you are comfortable with. Make them know what makes you comfortable. Do not get lured by what they think a relationship should be.

Advice

Don't be worried if you see others are better than you. You are good enough for yourself and for those who love you as you are. You don't need to prove your worth others again and again. Try enhancing your own skills instead of feeling insecure by others. You are never old to learn something. Everyday you learn something new and you become a student again. And one day, when you will accomplish all the skills that you wanted, you will be proud of yourself by looking at your journey.

For others, there's another message, give your body some rest and care because it deserves it. You have been overlooking your own health and repeatedly falling into the same pattern again and again and that's not healthy at all. You need let your soul get some fresh breathe, maybe try meditation and yoga and morning walks because they will seriously help you in some way or other.

❆ Pile 3

Career/Academics

Queen of swords and 5 of cups

Next year will be fruitful for you if you want to pursue higher studies related to law, tax , etc. You may have been little confused about what to pursue next but you have some ideas going on in your mind, thne you should execute them because they are right for you and will take you to the right path. I am sensing that you will be having great amount of self confidence on yourself and will feel like " THIS IS MY TIME AND NO ONE CAN DEFEAT ME". You know what you are doing and will continue doing things that will right for you and your friends. You may even get some sort of leadership position in your field of work or in your school/college, where you have to lead a group of people under you and guide them. You just have to be confident about yourself because queen of swords is being followed by 5 of cups indicating that you may lose everything the moment you start doubting your abilities. After which, you may regret a lot upon your past actions asking only if you could turn back time. Therefore, be careful and never doubt your actions. You are good as you are but never doubt that you will not be carry any sort of responsibility. The upcoming year can feel like a lightning to you all, like it started yesterday and ended today? Bizarre! Because you will have lots of things to do next year!

At the same, for a few of you, you may encounter a female who will above you in terms of age/authority. She will be very impressed with your work and may give you advise from time to time. You may also see her always complimenting and encouraging you from time to time because she genuinely feels you deserve them. May even help you financially ( only for very people here) but mostly, she will motivate you in some way or the other. You may even look upto her as if she is your role model in a way.

Love life

7 of wands and Hanged Man

This is telling me that many of you have high standards for your partners. High standards in a way where they seem unrealistic. You need to know that nobody can be perfect but two imperfect come together to make it perfect. Its like you want to be in relationship so badly but yet don't want to make yourself available since you already have high standards. Relationships are always hit and trial, not all of them will work out.

There's another message here, where you all are guarding yourself so much that it's giving the other person the message that you are not ready for any relationship. You are afraid of love and it's attachments but yet want it in some way or other way. For this, you need to need to let your guard down slowly by slowly and see others without any preconceived ideas about them.

Also, do not rush into any relationship. Take your time and let them take some time too. There's no need to take hasty decisions in matters related to love otherwise all your efforts may go into vain.

For people, who are already in relationship, and thinking that the relationship, is not benefitting or contributing anything in your life, then please walk out instead of wasting your energy. You all, need to really start focusing on your personal soul growth and do some healing instead of getting sucked by the other person. If better for both of you to take some time off from this relationship and start something new for the betterment of both of you.

Advice

It's ok to sometimes listen to others and let them lead you. Being too stubborn will only hamper you in the future. If you friends say that LETS GO TO THIS RESTAURANT, then go with them in that restaurant. Try becoming little less stubborn and you will see how life seems little less burdened. You always do not need to be the 1ST in everything and everywhere. It's ok to come in the second place.

There's another message, that, do not blindly trust someone, especially, your friends because I am not really getting good vibes for someone. There's a chance of you meeting some new friends through your mutual friends, but not all of them have good intentions, therefore, look out for things that seem suspicious at the very first glance.

Thank you for reading till here. See you again with another brand new post. 🕊️

[bookaddict24-7]

MY 12 FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2023!

I have a journal where I keep track of the books I've read throughout the year! These were the favourites of each month from January to December of 2023!

___

What were some of your favourite books in 2023?

___

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther

Meet Me Halfway by Lilian T. James

The Story of Us by Catherine Hernandez

Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli

Hotline by Dimitri Nasrallah

Time to Shine by Rachel Reid

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

___

Happy reading!

[bekah-reading]

119/120

5/5

My mind is reeling. Like what the fuck. This one was so good. I feel like it totally just knocked out all the others and claimed my favourite spot.

The writing was atmospheric, immersive, really descriptive. I loved it. It was tense and a little creepy. The characters were amazing. I totally recommend using the audible narration along with it. This story was perfect for a short story, and I think this set my new standard for horror short stories.

[dearorpheus]

“When I lobby for the inner life as a sacred site, as a touchstone, as a place of repair, as our integrity, as our private dialogue with our developing self, as our conscience and moral compass, as the joy of discovery, as deep connection with the known and unknown worlds of both experience and imagination, as the part of us we feel will not die, because in some sense it is passed on - as wisdom, as goodness, as an inter-generational touch across time, as the best of us, not least because it resists too much exposure to light, although it is light. The inner life is shy of too many visitors, but it is where we go to commune with ourselves, where we meet with the part of us that is both stillness and vibrant. A clear sound on a cold night. When I lobby for the inner life it is because it must be nurtured. Nurtured by nature and culture - the twin pillars of humanity here on earth; our connection with this planet, and with the civilisations we have created, their glories of art and architecture, of science and philosophy. We create worlds - inner worlds and outer worlds - and we need to live in both those worlds because we are born hybrids. [...] We are contemplatives and doers. We imagine and we build. We get our hands dirty, yet we rise above it all, star-dreamers and shit-shovellers. Creatures of beauty, as well as ugliness and fear. Terrible failure. Impossible success.”

— Jeanette Winterson, 12 Bytes: How We Got Here. Where We Might Go Next

[monniearc]

Babylon Revisited by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The World of the Short Story: A 20th Century Collection

[a-ramblinrose]

Hello! What were the most beautiful books you bought this year? 😊

Looking back on my 2023 purchases was delightful. I did decide only to pick books I bought, no gifts or little free library finds and I found so many lovely books!

Thank you @therefugeofbooks for the amazing question!!! I had a blast going through my shelves!!! 📚

[lonelyreadingcorner]

9th October 2023

Finished reading Apt Pupil by Stephen King today. I grew up quite the history nerd which is why I'm giving this 4 stars, but the ending felt like walking *bam* straight into a brick wall out of nowhere. What do you mean there isn't more??

But yeah, this story is hella fucked up but if you're a history nerd and like a bit of gore then this is definitely up your alley

[dreamofmetoday]

JENNIE YEARLY PREDICTIONS - 2023

this reading was a paid request, a huge thank you to the buyer!

bad news first, she's going to get cheated on. this is very clear and it's also likely she will know the other party or parties involved so this will be a pretty big betrayal to her. there's also an exposure of her secrets coming through but given that strong protection is also coming through, i don't think they will be shown to the public and if they are, they will not affect her long term. in a way, she's coming up as a bit clueless in general - meaning that all the things that surprise her this year she likely could prepare for if she paid attention to clues but she is too busy paying attention to other things. this will result in her rethinking some connections and she will be single for a while, perhaps the longest she's even been in her adult life. she will feel a little lost with the overall direction of her life but romantically, after thinking some of this through she will likely enter or rekindle a more positive connection - this time with longevity and seriousness as the core focus.

however, overall this is an extremely good year for her and she's going to be making a lot of money. everything she chooses to take on is going to be financially successful and beneficial to her (almost as if she can't make a bad move) and she will likely buy a new apartment or house by the end of the year (or by early next year). people will really love her this year, seeing as she's so famous i guess that's a given regardless but it seems she's really going to be feeling the love even more than usual and her enemies will end the year very mad they had no affect on her - she will have the advantage over them and overcome everything.