#favouritereads

[thegirlbythefirelight]

It is a tale told well. But it is cruel. And sadly, it is so to his family. Karl Ove Knausgard has written or ripped his heart, his life open in this series ‘Min Kamp’. ‘A Man in Love’ is just that- a story about young love, about marriage- the pretty, the tricky bits, about small progressions, little challenges in life- kids, apartment changes, in-laws, tiffs with one’s partner. The tragedies of youth, the permanence of decisions, the wounds we inflict, and those we survive. This story, the series, throws up some ethical questions. Repeatedly I had been astonished by the acuity of Knausgard’s observations about the mundane shards of life. As frequently, the divulged details, his feelings about situations, yes, but more about the people in his life left me shocked and, at times, feeling like a voyeur. We are all unkind, to our loved ones the most, but to put it down on paper and make it permanent is self-destruction of another kind. He remarked once- “When I started out on ‘Min Kamp,’ I was so extremely frustrated over my life and my writing. I wanted to write something majestic and grand, something like ‘Hamlet’ or ‘Moby Dick,’ but found myself with this small life - looking after kids, changing diapers, quarreling with my wife, unable to write anything, really.” That’s simple enough to understand. But how much is too much? It is not easy being a writer’s family. And Knausgard’s work proves that on a very different plane. If you read his interviews, he comes across as such a genuine and gentle person. And so I look at this book differently- we have felt so many of the things that Knausgard writes about- the shames, the frustrations, the horrors of being in situations we have no control over, of people, we are bound to through various threads- and I salute him. His writing is authentic and scary in its leap of faith. He has bled on paper., like how good writing demands you to. He has scarred himself and his family. His work is as real as it comes. #amaninlove #karloveknausgard #norwegianbookseries #delhibookstafam #delhibookstagrammer #indianbookstagrammer #womenwhoread #favouritereads #favouriteauthors #readingallthetime #literaryfiction (at Delhi, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfwaQqZvr_y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[so-mordor-itis]

ocean, leon :D

I had this with Death Island Leon or Vendetta Leon in mind!

--

He's dreaming of the ocean.

While it takes a while for his mind to register the fact he's dreaming, he can still taste the salt from the water as it is blown across the sand, feel the grain in his toes. He wonders when exactly in the dream he took off his sandals; he looks around for them, but doesn't spot them anywhere. Leon looks down and then feels a rush of cold swallow his ankles. The tide is like clockwork, swerving back and forth, grabbing at the sand but is then pulled back as if it's desperately reaching for him.

"Hey," a soft but foggy voice calls to him. It's familiar.

Leon blinks, turning his head around to see a figure. He squints, trying to identify the mysterious person. It's you.

Wait, you? What are you doing here?

"Did I lose you?" You ask him with such concern, he's beginning to question what this is. He can't wrap his brain around it, even as he thinks hard. Why are you here? Why is he on the beach, dreaming of something he shouldn't be dreaming?

"Uh, maybe." His tongue is moving for him, as if he's not entirely in control.

You roll your eyes playfully. "Come on, Lee. You're supposed to be having fun. It's your only weekend off, remember?"

He hasn't had a weekend off in at least three years.

"Yes, I know," his lips move again, but it feels so foreign. Is this what it feels like to be a ghost in your own body? "Old habits, you know. Can't kill them off just yet."

You carry an emotion in your eyes, but he can't read it. A small smile spreads across your mouth. You walk up to him slowly and he feels his heart pick up speed.

"It's okay to let your guard down this time," you kiss his cheek, telling him he really is, in fact, dreaming. And suddenly he feels ill. He feels you dusting something off his shoulders. Sand, probably.

He feels himself move again, completely out of his control this time. His brows furrow and his mouth flattens, but his cheeks won't stop flaming.

Leon awakens with a jolt. His eyelids slowly blink as he's slapped with consciousness. He turns his head over to see his alarm clock pointing red numbers in his direction, but he doesn't pay attention to the time. He's in control of his body again.

He groans, lifting himself up to take in his surroundings. He's no longer on the beach, no longer dealing with sand between his toes. No longer sensing your presence.

What was that? He's never had a dream like that before.

He allows himself to flop back on top of the sheets, fingers splayed out, feeling the fabric. An odd prick pokes at this chest. Part of him wants to close his eyes and see if he could dream that again. Part of him knows it wouldn't come back to him.

Leon runs a hand through his hair, possibly ruining his bedhead more than sleep did.

He laughs dryly. Was he seriously still dreaming of you, even now? Even after you told him, as softly as you could, that you couldn't be his anymore? (He hates the fact he can still smell the salt, feel your lips on his cheeks.)

It's been a few years, maybe he should call you.

He shakes his head. You were gone.

He should accept it.

He should.

His fingers itch, and then he caves. He dials your number and then he hovers over the call button before biting at his lip. This is stupid. He's stupid.

It's dialing.

He knows you won't pick up this late at night, but the urge took control. He wonders if he's not completely sober yet.

"Hello?"

He freezes, then hangs up.

Not yet. He can't confront you yet. Can't deal with the possibility of hearing disappointment in your voice at the fact he even called you at all.

He'll try again some day.

Maybe when he's sober.

~

Tags:

@seraphiism , @leonskillshot , @uhlunaro , @madeholyy , @tosuckmyweenis , @boiled-onionrings , @izuniias , @honeyfict , @konigbabe , @justonemore-fic, @mandalhoerian , @airanke , @azul-marie , @favouritereadings , @starbirdfinch , @universal-imagines

[alohiel]

Winter's Orbit by @everina_maxwell I think this is going to be one of my top 10 of 2021. I was hooked from start to finish; usually I have two or three books I cycle through but this was my one and only while I was reading it. I loved the protagonists, the relationships they had with others, the character focused science fiction, the 'doves'. And I love this pin :p #Bookstagram #QueerBooks #ScienceFiction #WintersOrbit #Tor #FavouriteReads https://www.instagram.com/p/CNai-iKMj7h/?igshid=e76h7a3x0ybv

[booktineus]

QOTD: Have you ever recommended books to your parents? I've recommended a few of my all time favourites to my dad, and the majority of the time he loves it too! He's actually finished a few series I recommended he start BEFORE I got to read the last book! And yes that is another one of my early, simple bookmark designs. I like it but am not sure if I want to change the font up or not... //CHALLENGES// #BooksCoastToCoastDec20 - 5 star read //HASHTAGS// #thenightcircus #nightcircus #erinmorgenstern #favouritereads #favouritebooks #standalone #historicalfantasy #reading #bookrecommendations #flatlay #booknerdigan #booklover https://www.instagram.com/p/CIZJxlOA3CX/?igshid=dm7rnmlvq2c8

[adayinbookland]

🎉FAVOURITES OF 2019🎉 . Of all 83 books I read this year, only these 7 made it into my favourites. I have reviews for all of them, you just have to scroll down if interested 😜 or you can always ask me in the comments 😊 . 🌿Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. 🌿How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn. 🌿Lanny by Max Porter. 🌿Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki. 🌿The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang. 🌿It’s Not About the Burqa edited by Mariam Khan. 🌿The Best We Could by Thi Bui. . These are in no particular order with the exception of Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo which takes the number one place without a doubt. . I have some plans for 2020 in terms of reading but will I actually share them? We’ll see 😂 I hope you have a great end to the year and please let me know your favourite books of 2019 😘 • • • #girlwomanother #howgreenwasmyvalley #lanny #lauradeankeepsbreakingupwithme #theprinceandthedressmaker #itsnotabouttheburqa #thebestwecoulddo #literaryfiction #graphicnovels #modernclassics #bernardineevaristo #richardllewellyn #maxporter #marikotamaki #jenwang #mariamkhan #thibui #favouritereads https://www.instagram.com/p/B6tEYc-oZyE/?igshid=d5t9ckvwerh0

[bibliobethblog]

Hello everyone and happy hump day to you all! We can make it to the end of the week 😅 Today I’m joining in with the #sixbookbookintofilmchallenge which I was tagged in by the lovely @always_need_more_books she always finds the best challenges to tag me in! 😂 Another big surprise - I’ve read all of these books 🤣 and they’re all on my favourites shelf but have I seen all the films? Er….no. I haven’t seen the films of The Goldfinch, Cloud Atlas or The Book Thief but I have enjoyed One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Pet Semetary and Atonement. Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Also let me know if I should see the films I mentioned that I haven’t! Let’s have a chat in the comments. #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookstagramchallenges #bookstagrammer #favouritebooks #favouritereads #fivestarreads #irecommendthesebooks #booktofilmadaptation #oneflewoverthecuckoosnest #kenkesey #petsematary #stephenking #atonement #ianmcewan #thegoldfinch #donnatartt #cloudatlas #davidmitchell #thebookthief #markuszusak #whyhaventyoureadthisyet https://www.instagram.com/p/CRUedKSrIbq/?utm_medium=tumblr

[wcs53]

Day 28 of #allthebooksjune21 is Favourite Book of the Year So Far. 📚 I’ve read 40 books so far this year, which was my total for the whole of 2020. These are my two favourites - one fiction, one non-fiction - for the first half of 2021. 📚 #allthebooksjune21 #favouritereads #bookstagram #bookaddict #readersofinstagram #instabooks #igbooks #theinconvenientindian #thomasking #klaraandthesun #kazuoishiguro https://www.instagram.com/p/CQsMl-Lrs0_/?utm_medium=tumblr

[bookspicelatte]

𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 🌙 Hey Pumpkins ♡ What were your favourite reads this year? For me it was: • The Institute & The Outsider by Stephen King • Small Spaces by Katherine Arden • Der Heimweg & Das Paket & Der Insasse von Sebastian Fitzek (german thriller) • Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer • Die Panne von Friedrich Dürrenmatt (german) 🍁 I would love to hear your favourite reads 🥰 Have a lovely evening 🧡 Love, 🍁 🌙 #favouritereads #cozy #aesthetic #beige #brown #pumpkin #christmas (at Munich, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJTvpysgfGi/?igshid=rh8jywtaz8bm

[xcurseofcurvesx]

Absolutely without a doubt the best book I read in August. This was impactful, insightful and just all round a great read. . . . . #badfeminist #roxanegay #favouritereads #readbyamity #essays #nonfictionbooks #ausbookstagram #booksofinstagram #ausbookbloggers (at Wollongong, New South Wales) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFEem0pgkO_/?igshid=19zkkqknlciri

[katsindiebookblog]

Well its gone lunchtime in #newzealand its the #jan1st #2020 and a #pa #work is never on a #schedule. So I am about to #format #thedestructionofrose for @rachelmraithby. This #book1 of the #duet #series is one of my #favouritereads of #2019 except that its not even published yet 😉 #perksofthejob so #happynewyear2020 #bookstagram #authorsofinstagram #readersofinstagram I hope this year is going to be #awesome. (at New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6wX6KmAQ_8/?igshid=11t1u3l243fsd

[rttpbookblog]

Today on my blog is My favourite books in the first 6 months of 2019. And what a wonderful 6 months it has been :) What have been your favourite books so far? https://bit.ly/2FH42ZS #bookblogger #favouritereads #favouritebooks #6months #reading #books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booksbooksbooks #booksaremylife #bookbloggers #bookblogging #bookblog #readingthroughthepain #RTTPBookBlog https://www.instagram.com/p/BzVezoJgDKO/?igshid=11zw0tg40ppnn

[so-mordor-itis]

Something Beautiful, Something Grand

Dedicated to @uhlunaro and @cweampier because I kept getting ideas reading your posts. Enjoy!!

WC: 1.5k

Taglist: @amatxs , @izuniias , @airanke , @favouritereadings , @azul-marie , @justonemore-fic , @spookluckpuck , @unhealthy-leon-brainrot , @honeyfict, @konigbabe

i

He's beautiful.

The thought hits you so fast that you almost jump out of your seat. You blink, eyes casting to the cup of coffee you just ordered. You feel yourself blink a few more times before realizing you did, indeed, just think that out of the blue. Think that Leon Kennedy is beautiful.

Because he is.

"You alright?" Leon asks, obviously noticing you're a little frazzled. Your insides begin to panic because oh God, he's looking this way, looking into your eyes, searching. He's caring, and that makes this so much worse.

You clear your throat. "Oh, yeah, just thinking. You say it a bit too fast, and your voice is a higher pitch. He notices.

"What about?"

You don't want to look him in the eye, but you force yourself to. There is no need to create more suspicion or concern. You shrug, acting like it's nothing. "Just wondering when the rain will let up."

"Yeah, it's been pouring, huh?"

You feel relief race through your veins, and you look outside. It probably isn't going to be anytime soon, but some part of you doesn’t want it to stop. You love the pitter-patter of the droplets striking the roof and the window. It almost distracts you from what your original thought was.

Then it hits you again as your eyes travel from the window to him. Leon is sitting across from you, taking a sip of his own cup of coffee–black, you honestly want to call him insane. His blue eyes linger outside. It pops into your mind again. He's beautiful. He really is.

Your face is hot, and suddenly you want to leave. It won't go away, no matter how hard you compel it to. No matter what you say to yourself. It stays in the back of your mind like a barb stuck to an animal's leg.

He's your co-worker. He's older than you. He's your superior.

You take a mental image of removing the barb with iron pliers. This has to stop here and never go anywhere moving forward.

You find yourself looking at him again, and he catches your eye for a second before you glance back at the rain.

ii.

You think it again when he offers to stay and help with dishes. You invited a few of your friends for dinner, not wanting to be alone that night, and Leon ended up staying longer than anyone else. You often found yourself talking to him more, learning about him more. For a moment, you almost didn't think about that day in the coffee shop, but then it hit you again.

He's beautiful.

He isn't even doing anything special. Leon has his sleeves rolled up a little, showing his arms. His biceps are littered with smaller scars. A longer scar trails up to where his sleeve cuts off, and you wonder how he had gotten that one. If it was painful, if he even felt it. His arm is moving as he scrubs, and your eyes follow its movements.

"My eyes are up here," he jests. You flinch, and he giggles. (He giggles.) Your cheeks burn, and you hope he doesn't notice the way you are fidgeting with your hands. Leon has a habit of being extremely observant when you don't want him to be. It's like he has a radar of when people are bothered or uncomfortable or ill.

"No, I was just uh," you flicker through your mind for an excuse. "Thinking."

"Seems like you're always doing that lately." He comments, and your cheeks are even hotter somehow.

"How'd you get that scar?" You ask, changing the subject. Leon stops scrubbing, and your heart drops, thinking you rubbed salt in an old wound. Maybe he received it from Raccoon City. Oh God, that's probably where he got it.

"Ah, that's an old one," Leon says, going back to scrubbing. "When Graham was president, his daughter got kidnapped to Spain. A crazy cult worshiped parasites and wanted to implant her with one and then send her back with it. I got this from when one of the buggers cut me."

Oh, not Raccoon City.

You huff a laugh. "Sounded like fun."

"Oh, it was such a joy." He scrubs a bit harder, as if imagining the bowl in his hands is one of the parasites. "Just when Ashley and I were safe, something else came along. And then she got taken again and again."

You pat his shoulder lightly. "You poor thing."

"I'm just glad she's safe. I still call her from time to time."

You're staring again, and you hate yourself for it. He's beautiful. Leon's eyes practically sparkle no matter what emotion he's feeling, anger, sadness, happiness. It's as if his mind is a galaxy, full of stars and planets and constellations. You wanted to research them all. You always wanted to know more about him, more about his life. You always wanted to dig deeper. Yet, a part of you is scared you'll dig so deep to the point that the light from the surface will be no longer visible.

You tear your gaze from him, excusing yourself to your bathroom. You glance at the mirror and see yourself glancing back. Turning on the faucet, you splash cold water against your face in hopes of combatting your blazing cheeks.

What are you doing? What led to this moment?

You cradle your face in your hands when you come to the horrifying conclusion.

You had already dug too deep.

iii.

He's beautiful, and you're in love with him.

iii.5

He starts appearing in your dreams. He kisses you in them, hugs you until your problems are solved, and you no longer feel empty.

Then you wake up and realize you're totally and utterly fucked.

iv.

"Alright, spill it." Leon says to you. He offered to drive you home, and you reluctantly took it. The two of you sat in silence before he pulled up to your curb.

You peer at him from the corner of your eye with confusion. "Huh?"

"Don't 'huh' me," Leon looks at you with tired eyes, and you feel guilty. "You know what this is about." The way he says your name stabs your gut.

"I don't." You do.

"You've been avoiding me." You were.

"No, I haven't." You suddenly get defensive. You absolutely were, and you hated it. You were avoiding him, like a little kid knowing they were in trouble, and he was the teacher who would eventually catch them. It wasn't intentional at first–work grabbed you, forcing you away from coworkers, from friends. Then you realized work could help you cope with your feelings. Then you realized you were actually avoiding your problems. A rabbit hole no one should allow themselves to tumble down.

"Leon–"

"I'm not stupid," he remarks. "You think I'm not going to notice that we're talking for so long then you suddenly stop?"

Your heart feels heavy, and dread is filling your veins. Your limbs are now concrete. There's no way you could tell him, not here, in his car that smells like him. With the way his eyes are full of hurt. Hurt from your actions.

"I'm scared." You mumble. You feel your lips trembling as the words tumble out. You can feel the weight they carry. "I'm scared, Leon, alright?"

"Scared?" His voice is suddenly softer. You can tell his mind is racing for reasons as to why, but he isn't going to find it.

"Of you," you tell him.

"Why?"

You can't tell him. You can't. You should make something up, tell him you're scared of working too much, tell him anything other than–

You grit your teeth.

Fuck it.

"I have feelings for you. That's why. I have had them since we started to actually become closer. Since you started taking interest in my life, what I do," your face is burning again, but you ignore it. "I keep having thoughts I shouldn't have."

How you want to kiss him. How you love him. How he has a way of kissing your dreams and destroying your nightmares, but it kills you inside because you have no idea if it's the same way for him.

Leon is silent for so long that you feel yourself tear up with embarrassment. The urge to leave his car is potent.

"You have a stupid way of showing it." He finally says, and your stomach coils. Leon calls your name so softly, so tenderly, you almost let those tears slip. "Did you not think, for a moment, that I wasn't also interested? Also falling for you?"

You feel his hand caress your cheek, and you wonder if he can feel how hot they are. He tilts your chin up, and your heart flips when you see his eyes shimmering. Your lip curves a little. "I guess I didn't want to get my hopes up."

Leon chuckles in a way that touches your soul. It's amazing what love could do. He was angry at you, hurt from what you did, and now he's gazing at you with such love in his eyes you could've melted into a puddle right then and there and he would still be giving you that look.

"Guess I was scared, too."

[newchangesahead]

Happy Release Day to this gorgeous beauty! 🎉🌲😍♥️I cannot believe that it is now out there, exposed, vulnerable. But also magnificently enchanting other readers with its stunning cover AND content! Go grab it and enjoy it. Currently in Sweden as can be seen in the other pictures, I was in the perfect environment for this magical read! Truthfully, I cried and screamed and suffered but this is what i want to feel when reading a good book. I want to be drawn into a different world, where I forget my own for a little while and just live the adventure alongside the characters. Exactly what this story did to me and i cannot express how brilliantly written it is! I am on edge for the sequels, as always when it comes to the incredibly talented @mcfrank_author ! So excited for everything that is to come for Robin, his bunch of outlaws and every other character you have created so far! But in the meantime I will just cherish and celebrate what I already have! Congratulations M.C. Frank, I am so proud of you!!! Go check this gem out people, it is so worth it! More information on @mcfrank_author page ♥️😘😍💕🎉🎊 #robinhood #everythingido #retelling #historicalfiction #magic #talent #thrilling #fantastic #favouriteauthor #favouritereads #outlaws #nottingham #sherwoodforest #escape #differentworlds #medievalengland #emotional #bookworm #review #releaseday #congrats #love https://www.instagram.com/p/BwWnOMCn70G/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ert50olrnu13

[adayinbookland]

Today is the day! My favourite reads of 2017! • - The Hate U Give. This is the only YA in my list and considering I haven’t enjoyed the genre in a while, including this title here speaks volumes about how much I loved it. - Peter and Alice. This one is a play and has a very special place in my heart. It broke me. I like to read plays out loud and I couldn’t stop my voice from quivering or my tears from coming. Every single word is perfect. - Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifiesto in Fifteen Suggestions. A wonderful little book. Adichie is straightforward and unapologetic. It packs a punch. - The Song of Achilles. Another one that destroyed me completely. I had so many feelings. The writing style is perfection. - The Tobacconist. I had high expectations for this one after reading A Whole Life and oh boy, were they met. I loved it. I read it in one sitting. Seethaler’s way of telling a story works very well for me and Collins’s translation is absolutely perfect. - Rebecca. What a masterpiece! Words fail me to tell you all why you should read this but believe me, you should! The story is atmospheric and an absolute roller-coaster of emotions. The tension by the end was unbearable in the best possible way. I think about this novel and its characters all the time. The story traps you in and you cannot let go. - Sing, Unburied, Sing. This was my first Ward and I have the rest of her books on my wishlist to buy them once finals are over to devour them. I absolutely loved Ward’s lyrical writing because it makes you feel so much for this family and their struggles. - Los Tres Mosqueteros. This classic took me completely by surprised. It’s massive but so worth your time. I adored it. • That’s all! Now let’s see what 2018 has in store, reading wise! What books made it to your favourite reads? ❄️ • • • #unitedbookstagram #2017reads #rebecca #classics #literaryfiction #stackofbooks #favouritereads #thehateugive

[bibliobethblog]

I’ve been a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice ever since I saw the classic BBC adaptation with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, in my opinion the PERFECT Lizzy and Mr Darcy (but we can agree to disagree if you like! 😂) I did go on to read the novel and have done a few times now and my love for it has only solidified. However I tend to be wary of reading adaptations or stories set after the events of P&P just because I’m not sure if they’ll measure up!⁣ ⁣ There was something about The Other Bennet Sister that started pulling me in though. I think it was the fact that it is told from the perspective of the often forgotten sister Mary Bennet who is often pushed to the background as she is a little quieter and perhaps not as confident, self-assured, blessed with good humour or as conventionally pretty as her other sisters. ⁣ ⁣ It wasn’t long before Mary stole my heart. I loved that as the focus was on her, we saw the flaws of the other characters in a bit more detail, even my precious Elizabeth Bennet! I felt really sorry for Mary throughout this novel as she was teased by Lydia and Kitty, couldn’t do anything right in the eyes of Mrs Bennet and woefully misunderstood and often ignored by the rest of her family. ⁣ ⁣ If I had one criticism it would probably be that it was fairly predictable, even to the extent where entire conversations were reminiscent of similar ones in P&P. Saying that, it was such a minor niggle that it didn’t affect my enjoyment in the slightest. Definitely recommended for fans of P&P and if you’ve read it, I’d love to know your thoughts! Five heart warming stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 #bookrecommendations #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #fivestarreview #fivestarreads #theotherbennetsister #janicehadlow #favouritereads #memorablebooks #marybennet #prideandprejudiceretelling https://www.instagram.com/p/CQOwon3LL4E/?utm_medium=tumblr

[wcs53]

Day 26 of #bookishcanadiansdec20 is Favourite Reads of 2020. 📚 I didn’t read as much as I wanted to this year, but these three were probably my favourites. 📚 #bookishcanadiansdec20 #bestbooksof2020 #favouritereads #bookaddict #bookstagram #igbooks #instabooks #readersofinstagram #mitchalbom #themagicstringsoffrankiepresto #alextrebek #theansweris #michellegood #fivelittleindians https://www.instagram.com/p/CJSkJRcA7E1/?igshid=w3y3xc9bx2g8