#bookish website

[wutheringmights]

Doppelgänger: A Trip Into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein is an interesting read.

I've never really read political books before (it took me a long time to learn how to manage my anxiety well enough to not break down whenever anything happened in the political news cycle), and I'll be the first to admit that it feels like a glaring fault on my part. I should be more well-informed beyond just what I see on social media.

I ended up picking this book because a podcast I listen to, If Books Could Kill, recommended it. Kinda. Their episode on it is only on their patreon, and I only listened to the teaser they have on Spotify. Or, uh, just the first five minutes of the teaser-- long enough to hear that they mostly recommended it. I turned it off and put the book on hold at the library as soon as I could.

Overall, I really like this book. Klein is a great writer, and she has a way of writing about big ideas that make them not only easy to understand but also compelling. I had no trouble reading this book throughout all of the airport time I had last week while on a trip.

The first half of the book is dedicated to sorting through what the fuck happened during COVID. The way she applies concepts like diagonalism and pipikism really helps to add clarity to what happened then, and how the political shifts still bleed into now. My favorite chapter was one on the ways wellness culture intertwines with the far right. (I have a sibling who works as an RD, and I have already told her that she just needs to read that one chapter.)

However, I think her framing device about doppelgangers and Naomi Wolf doesn't quite work. By the last third of the book, Wolf is all but forgotten, and you can feel Klein struggle to fit the full array of Leftist ideology into the frame world of doubles and doppelgangers. There was a point of time where Klein was framing Israel's oppression of Palestinians as a form of "doubles," and it's just... you can just tell that Klein wanted to talk about this but couldn't really fit this into the doppelganger and Mirror World framework. Maybe this chapter will get revised in later editions, especially since this book came out before the attacks and genocide on Gaza. Right now, it's just a clunky way of looking at colonization, especially with what is happening right now.

Speaking of which, some of the terms she came up with were outright silly. I can withstand the Mirror World stuff, but I draw a line at the Shadow Lands. Like, come on Klein. Don't you hear how silly that is?

Overall, Doppelganger works best as a primer for Leftist politics. If you are uninformed, this is a good place to get caught up in the past 5 years of thought. But Klein's framework doesn't always work, and her various chapters don't quite meld with each other. If you are already the most well-informed person on the planet, then you might be bored by this.

But if you just want a starting point, this book is a great introduction.

--

Doppelgänger: A Trip Into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein

Rating: 4/5

[terezbian]

the nightclub meme is KILLING me. you're killing me. sorry. nobody has to go to the club. i saw that poll with a meme calling people boring for not going. You're literally being mean.

[syzygystudios]

Buy our merch here!!!!

(At 5pm EST)

[upwords1990]

Medical Thriller

[thegreatwicked]

Writing Resources

I'm back to working on more Obi-Cress and after finishing Padawan I needed to gather my thoughts and some resources because there are only so many ways to describe a kiss! Anyhow, wanted to put some of the great resources I've found across Tumblr here to share with you guys! Happy writing!

Writing Tips

How to Show Emotions @creativepromptsforwriting

Advice for Writing Relationships

The Smut Writers Dictionary @maybeeatspaghetti

How to Write Fight Scenes. @reachartwork

The Ultimate Masterlist @a-cure-for-writers-block

Show Don't Tell @modifieduchiha

How to Give Personality to a Character @bookished

Show, Don't Tell @lyralit

Words to Use Instead of Said @slayingfiction

Useful Websites for Writers @nakajimeow

Rare English Words @er-cryptid

Character Flaws by slayingfiction

Emotions in Writing @mems-sama

Little Romantic Gestures @jaylaxies

How to Go from Daydream to Draft by @endlessburningdarkness

Good Traits to Bad by @writers-potion

50 Questions for Your Characters by @3hks

Writing Help by @nsk96

Writing Resources by @1one2two3three4four

Killing Your Darlings: Writing Death by my lovely friend @chaotickimchi she did a bang up job on this bit! Give her a follow, she’s one hell of a writer!

Writing Prompts

Blossoming Romance Writing Prompts @eloquentmoon

Flirty Prompts URfriendlywriter

Touch Starved Prompts @jasminesfury

[gabrielleragusi]

Wanderlust Window Collectible

12 windows into different fantasy worlds, designed in 2023 for the Bookish Box

Instagram  - ArtStation - Website - Inprnt - Etsy - TikTok

[elizmanderson]

very extremely late with this, but I'm part of Authors for Palestine, a bookish fundraiser for three families in Gaza chosen from the Operation Olive Branch spreadsheet. please donate if you can and share if you can't! the fundraiser is open through June 20.

the website explains things fully, but all donors of at least $5 (regardless of location) will get 16 ebooks and 3 store discounts. additionally, if you donate at least $5 (U.S.-only), $10 (international), or $15 (international), you'll be entered to win an extra book bundle (comprised of both print and digital books as well as some extra goodies).

a signed hardcover of The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher with gold edges lovingly hand-painted by myself is part of the Dark Fiction #1 bundle in Tier 1 (minimum $15 donation, open internationally).

to learn more, get the links to the fundraisers, submit proof of donation, and see all the book bundles, click here: link to website

[you-remind-me-of-the-babe]

It’s high time I’ve done another rec post, so here I am, coming in hot with six WIPs you should be reading right now.

Before I get into the fics themselves, a word about reading WIPs. Look, I know it’s tempting to wait until a fic is complete. Not to mention the fact that there is an absolutely staggering amount of amazing fics out there. I’m a slow reader myself, and my TBR list, even after reading fics for nearly three years, is so damn long. I could easily sit back and only read older completed fics and probably never finish them all.

But. I love a good WIP fic almost like nothing else. Yes, binging a completed fic in one sitting can leave you flying high. But following a fic as it’s being written, interacting with said fic and cheering that writer on, gives me so much gratification. Getting that email notification for a new chapter, and feeling so eager to read the new update, is an absolute joy. I highly recommend.

Lastly, this is not an exhaustive list of current Carry On WIPs, but merely a small sampling. And if anyone has any good WIP recs for me, I’d love to hear them!

Only Creatures, WIP, currently 52k, rated E by @emeryhall

In this canon divergent story, Simon breaks up with Baz at the end of WS, leading Baz to become a recluse and a poet, growing a beard and hiding out in Scotland. When he finds out Simon is a camboy for a website called Only Creatures, they tentatively start wanking chatting again. Come for Baz’s Unabomber style, stay for the second chances and explorations of intimacy.

Everything Emery writes is amazing, and this fic is no exception. It’s a little absurd, incredibly witty and heartfelt, with a cast of OCs that quietly shine. This story has cracked my heart open and is slowly putting it back together. You won’t regret reading this one.

Hiding Out in the Open, WIP, currently 48k, rated M by @cutestkilla

Another canon divergence story, this time where Simon and Baz never got together after their truce in 8th year. After the SSR debacle, they meet again and this time start connecting over a shared interest in a psychology podcast.

This fic does an excellent job of having these boys dig into their trauma and issues via the podcast topics, letting them heal and connect, while also letting the reader marvel at the heavy Snowbaz vibes of every podcast episode. It’s so smart, I’m telling you.

I Knew A Boy, I Knew A Man, WIP, currently 83k, rated T by @shrekgogurt

This football AU has Baz and Simon ending up on the same premiere league team, years after playing together at school. The author gives us flashbacks in every chapter of their frought relationship as teens, before progressing the story in the present.

I can’t believe I haven’t done an official rec post for this fic yet. Mary writes the sports bits of this story so vividly, and the flashback bookends of each chapter so perfectly tie into the current narrative, you’ll marvel at the complex way it moves the story forward. Seriously, one of my all time faves.

Basil Pitch’s Diary, WIP, currently 32k, rated T by @bookish-bogwitch

Watford-era Baz starts a diary on January 1st, determined to record his progress on various resolutions, namely, getting over Simon Snow.

This fic has the incredible humor of Bridget Jones’s Diary and will introduce you to your favorite version of acerbic, self-depricating teenage Baz. He will own your soul. There is no other outcome of reading this fic.

The Eternal Life of Baz Pitch, WIP, currently 25k, rated M by @monbons

This story watches a three hundred year old Baz, cursed after desperately trying to find a way to be loved on his own terms, wandering aimlessly in present times until he finds a certain blue eyed barista who has an unusual reaction to meeting him.

This AU is based on The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, but you don’t have to have read the book to become immersed in this achingly sad but thoroughly sweet story of hope and second chances.

Episode 6: Apres la Pluie, le Beau Temps, WIP, currently 10k, rated M by @artsyunderstudy

Another installment in the Star Trek series for the lovely @raenestee, this series is the epitome of following a good WIP story. Several authors have contributed to this sci-fi beast, and the progression of the story through several different writers’ hands is an absolute delight to watch. (And, as one of the authors, to participate in.)

If you aren’t yet reading it, this is a great time to join. We’re right in the middle of the story, leaving the four couples in Ashton’s very capable hands as she expertly guides them through various communication breakdowns. If you know nothing of Star Trek, don’t let that stop you from joining a thoroughly entertaining epic of a story.

[vkelleyart]

THE CHARM OFFENSIVE: CUSTOM PAPERBACK EDITION!

Pleased to announce the custom edition of Alison Cochrun’s THE CHARM OFFENSIVE, on sale today at Dazzling Bookish Shop! From the product description on the website:

This PAPERBACK custom edition will include:

A stunning bonus dust jacket designed by Venessa Kelley (VKelleyart) that will wrap around the paperback edition

Foiled elements on the dust jacket

Custom printed edges on all three sides designed by Venessa Kelley

A beautiful bonus print designed by @ace-artemis-fanartist

Shipments expected to go out June/July 2023.

Click the link below to get yours!

[inkcurlsandknives]

For my international bookish folks who are tearing their hair out at outrageous shipping costs, I wanted to share the Best international book buying deal I've found since the book depository went down

Check out Blackwells books this International Book Day and may you find the book you're looking for!

My book SAINTS OF STORM AND SORROW is at a 30% discount as compared to US retailers AND ITS the same flat price for shipping to the US, Philippines (and I recently learned Germany) check their website to see if your country is included and let me know!

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

where do y'all find new books?

no wrong answers here, and I'm not even personally looking for recommendations, I'm just curious about other people! I used to add a lot of books to my TBR just by being on twitter following authors I like who, go figure, know other authors and hype each other's books up, but I haven't gotten on twitter in months so that doesn't really work anymore.

I think these days most of the new books I want to check out come from, in no particualr order:

podcasts (either episodes with authors promoting their books or just the regular hosts mentioning books they read for research/fun)

shit my friends are reading

just wandering around the local library/bookstore and going "hey that looks neat"

related: grabbing the new issue of BookPage from the library every month and reading it cover to cover

the single booktuber I watch

lists of new releases from various bookish websites that google recommends to me every tuesday

what's the methodology for y'all? tags, reblogs, replies, inbox me, I don't care I'm just being nosy!

[drchenquill]

WIP Memes~

I was tagged by @the-golden-comet and @marlowethelibrarian for this!

I was very hesitant at first because I'm not confident with my meme abilites, but I thought I might give it a shot anyway.

Here some memes for "Him and Me - Bound by Fate"

I used this website!

(The last one is also kind of funny because Kiki is a Fera and her animal form is a dog, so it's very accurate).

Tagging with no pressure at all @paeliae-occasionally , @theink-stainedfolk , @finickyfelix , @bookish-karina , @rivenantiqnerd and open tag~

[clairelsonao3]

Heads Up Seven Up/Out of Context Tag

@winterandwords tagged me in Heads Up Seven Up, and @rickie-the-storyteller tagged me in Out of Context Line tag, so I'm going to squish these two together if nobody minds!

Instructions: Share 7 lines of your writing, or an out of context line, or both. In my case, I guess it's both.

Anyway, it's from a new WIP, but before you sigh and roll your eyes, it's not really "new," because it concerns an incident and characters briefly mentioned early in GSNBTR, which I have long pondered revisiting at some point (readers might even recognize one of the names!). And the aim is to make it a novella, which will hopefully act as a reader magnet on my website, whenever I get around to actually launching said website.

I've always kinda felt bad for these two, who really got fucked over in the story. However, I never actually thought I'd bring them back in a story all their own, but ... here we are!

"I know you’re more likely to kill me than thank me," said Rebekah. Riven raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise. “And you still took the chance?” “Well … yeah. Believe it or not, my life’s not exactly a picnic.” “Having me here isn’t going to make it any better, I can pretty much guarantee you that.” “Oh,” she said, “I know.”

Gently tagging @tabswrites @thatndginger @bookish-karina if you'd like to participate!

[literaticat]

Hi, Jenn! My debut is being traditionally published soon, and I’ve been trying to do promo and want to share news about reviews, but my newsletter is basically just my family and friends, and that feels stupid. I know you’re not my M&P manager, but do you have any tips? How do I get OUTSIDE people to notice me?

The thing about a Newsletter you have to figure out is, well, two things actually:

First figure out: What is the point of your newsletter? What are you trying to get out of it? But also, what is the point for the audience? Why should people subscribe?

Basically I'm saying, make it something where people actually might want to not only subscribe to it, but open it and read it. You don't need to send it EVERY time you get a piece of good news -- that's what regular social media is for -- but quarterly or so would be good.

Your newsletter can and should have things about your book all in one place -- like a "good news link roundup", an events calendar, but then also SOMETHING ELSE INTERESTING or FUN or USEFUL. What that something else is? That's for you to figure out. Maybe it's a peek at what it's like to be a debut author, maybe it's writing or editing tips, or interesting publishing news. Maybe it's advice you've learned in your years as a _______ that have informed your writing. Maybe you share resources for teachers/librarians. Maybe it's about something that is important to you that you think might also be important to your audience. Maybe it's NOT writing related but it fits your tone/vibe -- like every newsletter has a cookie recipe where you've tried it, or a "weird product review" or, "wild rabbit hole I went down while doing research." I don't know -- just, you know, make it fun and readable, not overly long or boring, bookish news with a little something extra as a bonus.

Second figure out: How to grow your mailing list? You can't be signing people up without their opt-in -- you need people to sign up for your newsletter themselves without your forcing them to. HOW?

First, if you haven't already, send an email to your family and friend contacts to get MORE of them to sign up. Second, that's what social media is for -- post interesting things on social media, and then, especially if something gets traction, periodically post a link for people to sign up. (Want more news about XYZ? Sign up for my every-now-and-then newsletter! etc.) Have a link to sign up for the newsletter on your website, in the LinkTree on your bio on Insta, etc etc. GIVE OUT THE LINK! Liberally!

Every time you do a bookstore event, gather people's emails if they are interested in your book (especially teachers, librarians, booksellers, etc) -- then send a little thank you note after with a link to subscribe if they want more info on book news, upcoming events, giveaways, etc!

This is not an EASY or FAST task, by the way, and it might take some time to get a good bunch of folks signed up -- but it will probably be EASIER once your book is actually out in the world and people are excited about it, looking it up, etc.