Every so often, accidental themes start emerging with the books I'm reading. Lately, it is "books that I wish were in existence during my adolescence." What a unique, yet painfully accurate, approach to discussing depression and trauma. This one is going to stick with me for a while.

#riseupreads @catsandbooks

#dynamicds #daughter
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#poetrymatters #wayfarer
@TheSpineView

I guess this is more of a response to #danger. But it's on my mind a lot during these dangerous times.

#dynamicds
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#poetrymatters #wax
@TheSpineView

"A funny thing about women and machines: the combination mace men curious. They seemed to think it had something to do with them." Rachel Kushner, The Flamethrowers

???

There is a "what radicalized you?" trend that hits social media every now and again. For me, it was just how I was raised. My #dad has always been my best history teacher and my political role model. The tagged book is among many he introduced me to. I couldn't find a good recent picture, so here's some of my favorite throwbacks.

#dynamicds
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#poetrymatters #waver
@TheSpineView

This was a beautiful and moving coming of age novel. It's absolute perfection. I highly recommend the audio read by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He truly makes the book come alive.

This was one of the most banned books in my state (Michigan). It's heartbreaking that there are people cannot see the value of this book.

#withthebanned @Jadams89

(March and April were re-reads, so I went off-challenge.)

I cannot wait for this discussion. I have so many feelings, and I'm dying to hear what others thought. I was utterly baffled by both of the main mysteries. There was so much going on in this one!

#almostachunkster #chunksterchallenge2025 @amiable
#shardlakeseriesbr @dabbe

I just started this one, and I can honestly say I have no idea where I am. 🤣 Apparently, it is underground somewhere.
#whereareyoumonday @Cupcake12

#dynamicds #dilemma
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#poetrymatters #wave
@thespineview

Protested with my mama today.

#resist #stopthecuts

Book Riot has my number today. These literary inspired Amigurumi are too cute:

https://bookriot.com/literary-inspired-amigurumi-patterns/

#audiocrochet #crochetersoflitsy #crochetandread

#dynamicds #dessert
@Eggs @alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#poetrymatters #water
@TheSpineView

I've read so many authors from #threelistthursday, just not the specific book that was chosen. 🤣
Random Thoughts
🩵 I was happy to see Jean Auel's The Clan of the Cave Bear on the list. The series is so good, but I don't see it on many lists.
🩵 I'm finally going to tackle Don Quixote in 2026.
🩵 A #bookishconfession: I've started Great Expectations 3 different times and never finished. I have no idea why. I liked what I read! 🫠
@dabbe

I found this graphic novel via NYPL's Teen Banned Book Club. It is inspiring, funny, heart-warming, and utterly delightful. It's an amazing resource, as well. Books like this need to exist.

You can watch NYPL's online event with the authors here: https://www.youtube.com/live/WpNLG725Uss?si=hLu7F29lGv_Cem01

And the book club link is: https://www.nypl.org/spotlight/freedom-to-read/teen-book-club

##withthebanned

🩵 I've already read so many great books this year, but Now in November by Josephine Winslow Johnson is one that I still think about.
🩵 I haven't had to DNF a book yet! I did pause Somewhere Beyond the Sea because I've had trouble concentrating on audiobooks, but that was a me problem.

#wondrouswednesday @eggs

It's migraine season, so I fell a little behind in my daily #readlesmis. I'm reading a couple extra chapters a day until I catch up. This quote got me thinking, particularly because there's so much talk about the Blue Origin flight right now.

Oh, and I've been enjoying the reading so much that I treated myself to this used edition. It's purdy.

@TheBookHippie

#dynamicds #dice
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#poetrymatters #watch

💙 I filed our taxes yesterday. Usually I file in February, but I've just had no mojo this year.
💙 Delightful

#two4tuesday #childrensclassicread2025
@thespineview @thebookhippie

I stumbled across Owls, Omens, and Oracles by Valerie June while exploring new albums. It's impossible for me to pick a favorite track: it's a #noskips album. Here's a great review of the album:

https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/valerie-june-owls-omens-and-oracles/

Even though this is a Tidal link, it will let you choose your music service once you click it:
https://tidal.com/album/428113448?u

#tuesdaytunes @TieDyeDude

#dynamicds #denial
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#poetrymatters #waste
@TheSpineView

I'm all over the place:
🌏 The Bonneville Salt Flats in the 1970s
🌏 1970s NYC
🌏 1970s Rome and Lake Como
🌏 Rome and Milan during the first World War until the 1950s

#whereareyoumonday @Cupcake12

I'm behind on #riseupreads. It took me a bit to get my hands on this book, only to discover my mom owns it. 🫠 This was an interesting book, but some of the history was not new to me. I appreciated the lesser known stories about non-white women the most. While this is a pick for me, it ultimately made me want to read books from the Indigenous perspective. I'm going to read An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States next.
@Catsandbooks

#dynamicds #discovery
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#poetrymatters #assailant
@TheSpineView

This book was:
🩵 A good story about a family in the wake of infidelity
🩵 A sharply funny skewering of academia (I've met some of these characters. I know these characters. She nailed it.)
🩵 A fascinating and unabashed exploration of race, class, gender, and family
🩵 A damn good book.

This was for my own #readthedecades challenge. It was published 20 years ago (2005).

Let's Dance by David Bowie, a great song for a Friday:

https://youtu.be/VbD_kBJc_gI?si=P_ZU8MDae1BHN9xv

#dynamicds #dance
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#poetrymatters #wary
@TheSpineView

I have such a crush on Tom Morello.

https://youtu.be/Yv-0LkDouRs?si=MVI37hZzK7TW67Bx

#tuesdaytunes @tiedyedude

🩵 Abso-frickin-lutely. And proud of it! 🥰🥰🥰
🩵 I adore Matilda.

#two4tuesday @thespineview

#poetrymatters #warp
@TheSpineView

#dynamicds #diary
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#poetrymatters #warn
@TheSpineView

#dynamicds #differentlyabled
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I just found out our local Planned Parenthood is closing. The nearest one will now be 3.5 hours away in WI. If one wants to stay within the state of MI (because state law differences), it's 5+ hours. I want to spit nails. That is where I got all of my healthcare in my 20s before I could afford insurance. I was already planning to march on Saturday, but I now have a lot more rage to fuel it.

I can't possibly pick favorites from this list. So random thoughts, instead:

🩵 Up is my favorite movie ever. It warms my icy heart. I cry 3 times during it to this day.
🩵 Philip Seymour Hoffman was one of my favorite actors. I'm so sad he died so young.
🩵 When Pulp Fiction came out, our local art theatre showed it during their Oscar series, and a bunch of elderly ladies who were regulars walked out in disgust. 🤣🫠

#threelistthursday @dabbe

#dynamicds #doorway
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#poetrymatters #warbler
@thespineview

#poetrymatters #war
@thespineview

#dynamicds #doublelettertitle
@eggs @alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

WOW! What a book. The language is beautifully evocative. It's reflective and thoughtful. It's heartbreakingly human. I am saddened that it isn't a better-known book. I still have more research to do, but I saw a blog that suggested that Johnson "faded" into obscurity because of the inherent politics in her writing. The book does seem that it was ahead of its time, so I can see that being a factor. Plus, she was a woman.

Read this book.

I haven't read this, but I'm intrigued.
#dynamicds #detective
@eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#poetrymatters #wanton
@TheSpineView

This was riveting coming-of-age story about an unnamed girl set in 17th century Persia. The historical and cultural aspects were fascinating. I appreciated how folktales were woven into the story and how the plot somewhat mirrored the style of those folktales. The descriptions of Persian carpets were so beautiful; they made the art come to life.

This pairs well with the nonfiction book I'm reading about Iran's history.