Since discovering it, man, I am obsessed with Deep Research reports. I can't wait to go and read every post and paper cited this report 
.
Enjoying my usual morning Saturday by supporting a cafe a walk away, and reading my RSS feed and reports. The best thing ever
So this is the 21st century of going through the weekend newspaper, I guess!
Book 27 of 2025
The Sleepless by Victor Manibo
2.75 stars
A compelling mystery with anti-capitalist themes and an unreliable queer narrator. Unfortunately the style wasn't for me, particularly the dialogue. I feel the book should have been about 30% shorter: there's a lot of fat to trim and the strong moments end up diluted by hamfisted filler internal monologues.
Back to the positive: the plot was satisfyingly unsatisfying. A lot of books have a neatness to them that breaks my suspension of disbelief, even when executed well. Whereas I could absolutely see the events of this book happening in our world. Quite a few parts felt painfully real.
@bookstodon #Bookstodon #Books #BookReview #AmReading #Reading #LGBTQBooks #Mystery
Just finished "Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity" by Angela Velez. It's an excellent #OwnVoices Latinx teen drama about big questions like dating and college, and it's very well plotted, with lots of balls in the air that get caught and thrown again beautifully and which all come down nicely at the end. Reminded me of "Far From the Tree" by Robin Benway, which also had three siblings and which also juggled dramatic irony beautifully across multiple perspectives. A less skilled author could have told a similar story with more straightforward perspective trading, but Velez manages to create a lovely relay race of tensions that pass their batons to each other so neatly you're always eagerly awaiting the next development.
I’ve struck lucky again with another random library audiobook. Very much enjoying The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson. It has Kate Mosse vibes, with a thriller/crime subplot, and a feisty protagonist. Definitely a bit of light relief after Young Mungo broke my heart several times. #NowReading #Bookstodon #AmReading https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/26e43f02-859c-4e64-9a74-e8f2bd767b1a
I'm re-reading The Long Walk by Stephen King in anticipation of the movie that comes out next month. Even though this story is one of my favorites by King - maybe in my Top 5? - I don't think I've picked it up in a couple of decades. Too long.
Hollywood doesn't always treat King's work with respect (looking at YOU, Stand adaptations... BOTH of you). I think this one is going to be really, really good, though.
#AmReading #FridayReads #Books #Bookstodon #StephenKing #Horror @bookstodon
Another instance of an event I cannot attend because I don't live in the UK. But yes, 150 years of illustrations for Austen books? Yes, please!
#AmReading #AmWriting @bookstodon #books #Bookstodon
#WritingCommunity #ReadingCommunity #Regency #Georgian @romancelandia #JaneAusten
If you read online serial fiction, how many episodes is the max, you are comfortable with for short pieces. (Under 2K words.) In some instances on the Fedi, allow up to 3K characters. Which is min. of 3 EP per 1K words.
Reading Percival Everett’s James, and I know I’m late to the party, but it’s bloody good #AmReading #Bookstodon
Stressed? Feeling overwhelmed? Why not give your frazzled nerves a warm, literary hug and melt your worries away for a while? This week’s Butch/Femme Fiction Therapy Thursday theme: Against All Odds.
#againstallodds #therapythursday #butchfemmefiction #lesfic #sapphicbooks #amreading #bookstodon #readingcommunity #butchfemme #lesbian #lgbtq #lgbtqia
@lgbtqbookstodon @bookstodon @sapphicbooks
Both the first and second book of the Desolation saga will be available on my new Kickstarter, at a discount. Jump on in to the series critics are calling: "exciting and multifaceted", "Fun, thrilling and sharp" & "imaginative and fast-paced".
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dharrigon/desolation-keep-your-imaginary-friends-close
I was not aware that a new S+S is coming down the pipeline! It's from Focus Features (who also did P+P 2005) so hopefully this will be good. Additionally, Fiona Shaw plays Mrs. Jennings here, AND she's playing Lady Catherine de Brough over at Netflix's P+P. She's on an Austen kick!
https://www.elledecor.com/life-culture/a65279758/daisy-edgar-jones-sense-and-sensibility/
#AmReading #AmWriting @bookstodon #books #Bookstodon #WritingCommunity #ReadingCommunity #Regency #Georgian #JaneAusten @romancelandia
Just finished "Leap" by Simina Popescu. A really wonderful queer teen graphic novel that weaves romantic and platonic relationships together into a beautiful and hopeful story. The way Popescu captures choreography on an illustrated page is kinda magical, and since the whole book is set in a ballet school, we get to see plenty of it.
Just finished "Love, Hate, and Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed. I was worried near the beginning it would be pretty shallow, but having read some of Ahmed's other stuff, I wasn't surprised when it turned into a page-turner. Her books have a lot of similarities, but staying close to her own experience makes them better, I suspect. This was a good book.
---SPOILERS---
Had a much-better-than-average college-separation-induced highschool-romance-ending in my opinion.
Folklore read live!
Are Pixies a Force for Good?
I mean, generally, no.
Hear the Tales & Decide for Yourself LIVE right NOW: https://youtube.com/live/GS3O8_U1Imw
Book 26 of 2025
Life? Or Theatre? by Charlotte Salomon
5 stars
One of the most unique and moving works of art I've ever experienced. Charlotte Salomon was a Jewish woman who had to leave art school and flee Nazi Germany to live with her grandparents. Then she discovered that her mother, aunt, and grandmother all died by suicide, which instantly reconfigures her self-perception and memories of her childhood.
While in France, Charlotte spent at least two years making over 1,200 gouache paintings as she processed her grief, interspersed with autobiography and musical cues. These were overlayed with transparencies with additional text, giving an unusual effect as seen in the third picture.
I related so deeply to Charlotte's anguish and dread upon learning of her family history with mental illness. And it was comforting to see her realize that contemplating death and creating urgent art from emotional impulse can be deeply healing.
The illustrations were gorgeous and the introductory essays in the Taschen edition provided helpful analysis and context. I'm going to be thinking about Charlotte for a long time.
@bookstodon #Bookstodon #Books #BookReview #Reading #AmReading #Art #ArtHistory
"For a real heart-to-heart you couldn't do much better than a clock."
from "A Stitch in Time" by Penelope Lively #AmReading
Picked up these at the bookstore. Don't know which to start first! Clearly I'm not in a cozy-read mood 
#AmReading #Books @bookstodon
#LunchtimeReading : You Glow in the Dark, a collection of short stories by Bolivian author Liliana Colanzi , coming October in the UK from Akoya Publishing
八尺様
Webb • マコウェブ • мак веб 
