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Search results for tag #reading

[?]dcozy » 🌐
@dcozy@zirk.us

My review of Esprit de Corps by Lawrence Durrell is up at Conspicuous Consumption.

afterblockhead.blogspot.com/20

    [?]Waywords Studio » 🌐
    @WaywordsStudio@mastodon.social

    𝟯-𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: "𝗔 𝗣𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆" 𝗯𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗼𝗻 -

    Prosaic
    Thoughtful
    Endeavoring

    𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲:

    𝘗𝘳𝘦-𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 5 of your favorite titles from the past 20 years, how well do they fall into Richardson's categories as you read them?

      [?]Searching The Meaning Of Life! (S.T.M.O.L) » 🌐
      @searchingthemeaningoflife.wordpress.com@searchingthemeaningoflife.wordpress.com

      Βουβή απειλή  μα η καρδιά που μαθαίνει  δεν μένει μόνη | by SearchingTheMeaningOfLife

      [photo by EvAr]

      Βουβή απειλή
      μα η καρδιά που μαθαίνει
      δεν μένει μόνη 

      [Εμπνευσμένο: «Αόρατη Απειλή», Ψαρρά Αγάπη] 

      by SearchingTheMeaningOfLife

      Για περισσότερα :

      books2read.com/
      www.stixoi.info
      www.poemhunter.com
      www.wattpad.com
      www.smashwords.com
      www.easywriter.gr
      www.goodreads.com
      www.scribd.com
      www.kobo.com
      itunes.apple.com
      www.overdrive.com
      www.barnesandnoble.com
      www.thalia.de
      www.everand.com
      shop.vivlio.com
      fable.co

      Βαθμολογία:

        [?]It's just a Queer Old Blog... » 🌐
        @aqueerold.blog@aqueerold.blog

        Review: Dragman, by Steven Appleby

        Funny, sad, touching, triggering, endearing and heartwarming, and that's just the cover. Read it, now. [SENSITIVE CONTENT]

        Trigger warning: if you have any form of gender dysphoria, and clothing forms a particularly triggering aspect of your dysphoria, you might find that this book goes hard. Be prepared to take a break during reading before coming back to it.

        Actually, what I would suggest is reading the author’s appendix, “I am not August Crimp”. There’s a version of it on the Guardian website. Steven Appleby is a trans woman who for many years lived her truth in secret and as many will recognise and empathise, she paid the price for it.

        The important thing to take away from her potted autobiography is that when she writes things that hit home hard, that make you feel putting the book down, that send you spiralling down a internalised shame spiral, she’s writing them after having experienced them all herself. If this book causes you pain, then know that she’s lived it, and got through it, and you will too.

        If you are any flavour of LGBTQ+, this is going to look and feel horrifically familiar.

        So, what is it?

        Quick note: we will discuss this book in general, spoiler-free terms and discuss the plot from a high level, general viewpoint. I will try not to include any detailed plot information that you can’t get from the back of the book, which is pictured below, or the article linked above.

        ‘Dragman’ (Appleby, Steven, 2020, Dragman, Jonathan Cape: London) is a large graphic novel – 330 pages including a couple of afterwords – that deals with the story of unlikely crossdressing superhero August Crimp, aka the titular Dragman. In the Expanded Appleby Universe, superheroes have quite literal powers (people stick to the superhero called Flypaper, and he can fly, as his name suggests) and they are all unionised and collectivised. It’s not quite as bad as Vought International in terms of superhero management, although there is a similarly soulless corporation in this graphic novel.

        As a young man, August discovered a love of wearing women’s clothes. Like many people in that situation, it wasn’t for kicks or any form of sexual fulfilment – crossdressing was more soul fulfilment for our August. He does not wish to transition, he simply wishes to present as a woman.

        One day, August discovers that dressing as a woman can literally make him fly, and Dolly Marie (his femme name) becomes Dragman. But events conspire to drag him (pun intended) into a murky world of corrupt superheroes and soulless capitalism when T-girls that Dolly Marie knows from the nighttime scene start being murdered.

        Alongside – I think I’m contractually obliged to describe her as “a trusty sidekick” – Dog Girl, Dragman starts to investigate the crimes but quickly discovers they’re linked to a far more wide-ranging and insidious plot. Dragman wants to investigate, but spending so much time as Dragman means that he’s not spending time as August Crimp, and that starts to put a strain on his relationship.

        The book intersperses short prose interludes with chapters drawn in Appleby’s idiosyncratic but strangely touching style. Whilst it looks messy, an artist friend helped me realise that maintaining this homely style whilst making all characters immediately recognisable is quite the skill. It mixes line drawing with colour, huge spreads with tightly panelled action, and current events with flashback action. The watercolours are provided by Nicola Sherring, to whom Appleby is still married and still lives with, although they are no longer a couple. They are large and eye-catching and beautifully sympathetic to the novel. 

        The book is heavy on metaphor and whilst it is often very on the nose, it’s usually for comedy effect. As mentioned, a lot of the superheroes have very literal powers – Pipe is a conduit from one place to another, Believer can do anything as long as he believes it, and so on. Other metaphors are more subtle, and usually relate to capitalism (no spoilers, you’ll see what I mean when you read it). 

        It’s not a laugh out loud funny book, it definitely is funny but it’s a far more wry style of humour. But the humour is mixed with difficult details about gender dysphoria, outsider syndrome, internalised and external transphobia, and general anti-LGBTQ+ prejudice and violence (even the prejudice and violence that trans people receive from members of the LGB community makes an appearance, in metaphorical form).

        As someone who came to a nonbinary identity later in life but struggled with understanding they were different for most of it, it can be a bloody hard read in places. When you read about the harmless and innocent joy that young August feels just from putting a dress and heels on, you know full well that he is going to pay for it later in some way because that’s just the way that the universe seems to treat trans people. You read that, you know August is going to get kicked for it, and it makes it hard to continue reading if you recognise your own experiences and you know what’s coming. I would be interested to know how cishet people, especially ones that aren’t overtly allies, perceive the novel and whether they recognise the internal and external shadows that LGBTQ+ people live their lives under.

        The Lowdown

        Diversity and Inclusion

        It’s all here, pretty much the whole spectrum of human and superhuman existence. A

        Sustainability

        It’s printed on FSC certified paper, but there are no more details than that. There are different grades of FSC certification and it would be good to have more detail. B

        Vegan status

        No information given. E

        Rating

        I can’t speak highly enough of this book and I recommend it unhesitatingly to everyone. It’s not ‘just’ a graphic novel or ‘just’ an LGBTQ+ novel, it’s a sad, funny, touching, triggering and heartwarming story that can and should be enjoyed by everyone. A

        Review: Dragman, by Steven Appleby

        Alt...Review: Dragman, by Steven Appleby

        Review: Dragman, by Steven Appleby

        Alt...Review: Dragman, by Steven Appleby

        Review: Dragman, by Steven Appleby

        Alt...Review: Dragman, by Steven Appleby

        Review: Dragman, by Steven Appleby

        Alt...Review: Dragman, by Steven Appleby

        [?]It's a me, Mauro [He/him] » 🌐
        @mauro@mograph.social

        After craving some more Moby Dick I ended up reading a 2025 novel by E. Rutherford called "North Sun".

        Very well written and definitely lots of connections to Melville's work (honestly if I hadn't read Moby Dick so recently I wouldn't get a lot North Sun's whaling lore), but in the end it didn't deliver to me.

        Longer review here: app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/

          [?]shadownlite » 🌐
          @shadownlite@mastodon.social

          Currently reading....

          Cover of book Lovers XXX by Allie Rowbottom

          Alt...Cover of book Lovers XXX by Allie Rowbottom

            [?]Coach Sankhavaram ® » 🌐
            @paninid@mastodon.world

            An image featuring the text "Empty minds make the most noise" at the top. Below the text, two heads are shown in profile facing one another with mouths wide open. The head on the left has a pale complexion and light-colo light-colored hair, with its scalp appearing smooth and featureless. The head on the right shows an interior view of a dark space filled with stars alongside a bookshelf containing colorful books. Both necks end in jagged edges against a plain white background.

            Alt...An image featuring the text "Empty minds make the most noise" at the top. Below the text, two heads are shown in profile facing one another with mouths wide open. The head on the left has a pale complexion and light-colo light-colored hair, with its scalp appearing smooth and featureless. The head on the right shows an interior view of a dark space filled with stars alongside a bookshelf containing colorful books. Both necks end in jagged edges against a plain white background.

              [?]Amalia Zeichnerin » 🌐
              @amalia12@mastodon.social

              Nazis Holocaust [SENSITIVE CONTENT]

              A writer decided to work on a historical dark romance with a romance between a literal Nazi and a Jewish woman. Over on Instagram, she is now getting a shitstorm, and many people, including me, either state that this is a horrible idea, or explain to her why. Among the commenters are some Germans, Austrians and Jewish people.

              I sincerely hope this author either stops this project, or re-writes it entirely, for instance in a dark fantasy setting.

                [?]LaraK » 🌐
                @Lara@metalhead.club

                I finally finished "Horde of the Counterwind" by Alain Damasio.
                I can't really say whether I think it's good or bad. I don't think it's possible to judge that objectively. Subjectively, I was a little disappointed in the end.

                It’s supposed to be the inspiration for Clair Obscure Expedition 33, but it really has very, very little in common with the game’s story or world.

                If you’re into highly philosophical fantasy, you’ll find a treasure trove here. If you prefer something more concrete, coherent, and within the bounds of conventional fantasy, you’re better off staying away....

                  [?]Ace » 🌐
                  @AceBookReviews@mastodon.social

                  Up til 2am devouring my latest advance reader/ARC for "Between Tides & Thunder" by Leena Kazan. Loved it, rated it 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5), and wrote my Goodreads review about the two minor things I noticed: goodreads.com/review/show/8763

                    [?]Project Gutenberg » 🌐
                    @gutenberg_org@mastodon.social

                    Are we living through the end of reading?

                    npr.org/2026/07/11/nx-s1-58862

                    In Federico Zandomeneghi's painting "Girl reading a book," a young girl with bright red hair is shown in profile, looking to the left. She is holding an open book and wears a light blue dress with a ruffled collar. The background is filled with warm shades of orange, red, and soft yellow.

                    Alt...In Federico Zandomeneghi's painting "Girl reading a book," a young girl with bright red hair is shown in profile, looking to the left. She is holding an open book and wears a light blue dress with a ruffled collar. The background is filled with warm shades of orange, red, and soft yellow.

                      [?]dcozy » 🌐
                      @dcozy@zirk.us

                      My review of Lazarus Man by Richard Price is up at Conspicuous Consumption.

                      afterblockhead.blogspot.com/20

                        [?]Kool Badges » 🌐
                        @koolbadges@mastodon.social

                        Our bookish badges make cute gifts for fellow book worms. koolbadges.co.uk/reading-book-

                          [?]Paul Semel » 🌐
                          @paulsemel@toot.community

                          Finished reading Adrian Tchaikovsky's "Children Of Strife."
                          amzn.to/4dbmURq
                          📖🚀🪐
                          While the earlier books in this epic series were better, this was still engaging and inventive.

                          Finished reading Adrian Tchaikovsky's "Children Of Strife." While the earlier books in this epic series were better, this was still engaging and inventive.

                          Alt...Finished reading Adrian Tchaikovsky's "Children Of Strife." While the earlier books in this epic series were better, this was still engaging and inventive.

                            [?]Ben! (Boo!) » 🌐
                            @famousblueben@mas.to

                            Finished reading The Dark Half for the first time (but having had seen the film adaptation). It was pretty good. A goofy premise that's never fully explained, and like MANY King books it is kind of anticlimatic and limps across the finish line, but I generally enjoyed the experience.

                              [?]Bich Nguyen » 🌐
                              @bich@apobangpo.space

                              Ann M. Martin celebrates the 40th anniversary of The Baby-Sitters Club! I LOVED reading this series in childhood because it was a modern portrayal of girls, life, family, and friendships in America. Incredibly relatable. One of my earliest memories of seeing an Asian American character in media, and one who didn't fit the usual Asian stereotypes. 😍 Claudia Kishi forever!

                              Interview with Ronny Chieng on The Daily Show earlier this week: youtube.com/watch?v=QaVf2CwyZjY

                                [?]Sobtanian » 🌐
                                @Sobtanian@mstdn.games

                                Question for older (gen x and beyond) UK people out there:

                                Do you like puffins?

                                And, if so, do you think it’s because of Puffin Books, who seemed to have published all the good books we read back then, like Roald Dahl.

                                Because I really like puffins and I don’t know why (never seen them IRL) so I was wondering, and I realised that it’s very likely because of Puffin Books and their logo that was ubiquitous when I was growing up.

                                Just a thought 😅

                                Puffin Books logo. A stylized illustration of a puffin bird inside a yellow oval with a black border. The puffin is drawn in a minimalist, graphic style using black and white shapes, facing right with its distinctive beak and curved body clearly outlined.

                                Alt...Puffin Books logo. A stylized illustration of a puffin bird inside a yellow oval with a black border. The puffin is drawn in a minimalist, graphic style using black and white shapes, facing right with its distinctive beak and curved body clearly outlined.

                                  [?]Waywords Studio » 🌐
                                  @WaywordsStudio@mastodon.social

                                  𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗿: "𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲" 𝗯𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗯𝘂𝘀 -

                                  3-Word Review:
                                  Gulf-crossing, Re-sensitizing, Broadening

                                  Frictional Posture: Thinking of mind, body, and culture, where is language located?

                                    [?]ResearchBuzz: Firehose » 🌐
                                    @researchbuzz_firehose@rbfirehose.com

                                    New-to-me from Boing Boing: Verba Prima collects thousands of literary opening lines. “Verba Prima is a website dedicated to the opening lines of books. Its archive contains thousands of first sentences from notable literary works. It’s a simple way to explore how famous authors chose to begin their stories.”

                                    https://rbfirehose.com/2026/07/11/boing-boing-verba-prima-collects-thousands-of-literary-opening-lines/

                                    [?]EveryLibrary » 🌐
                                    @everylibrary@mastodon.social

                                    Like, follow, and share if you love libraries, literacy, and books!

                                      [?]Noisette Dor » 🌐
                                      @NoisetteDor@mastodon.social

                                      Départ vacances demain ! Dans ma valise il y a ... 😸

                                      Montage présentant une sélection de lectures et d'activités pour les vacances. En haut, un magazine d'enquêtes logiques et un livre illustré sur l'histoire des OVNIs. En bas, le magazine scientifique Epsiloon, un livre de coloriage Little Corner aux illustrations douces et une pile de deux romans de la série Hamish Macbeth. Une sélection éclectique mêlant romans, science, jeux de logique, documentaire, cosy mystery et détente créative.

                                      Alt...Montage présentant une sélection de lectures et d'activités pour les vacances. En haut, un magazine d'enquêtes logiques et un livre illustré sur l'histoire des OVNIs. En bas, le magazine scientifique Epsiloon, un livre de coloriage Little Corner aux illustrations douces et une pile de deux romans de la série Hamish Macbeth. Une sélection éclectique mêlant romans, science, jeux de logique, documentaire, cosy mystery et détente créative.

                                      [?]Literary Titan » 🌐
                                      @literarytitan@literarytitan.com

                                      One Chance

                                      James Chamberlain’s One Chance is a portal fantasy about Charlie Baker, a middle-aged man whose life has become a stack of bad choices, unpaid debts, and missed opportunities. When a strange doorway gives him a way out, Charlie steps into Wisteria, a world of giants, witches, enchanted objects, bounty hunters, dragons, and old grudges. The setup is simple and effective: “He was always in trouble.” From there, the book turns that trouble into a second life, one where Charlie becomes Chance Arizona and has to decide, again and again, what kind of person he’s going to be.

                                      What makes the story easy to settle into is its mix of adventure and playful humor. Chance is rarely the most capable person in the room, and the book gets a lot of mileage out of watching him survive through nerve, luck, and the occasional ridiculous idea. Periwinkle, Indigo, Marigold, the Crimson Blade, and the larger cast give the quest a lively, storybook feel, while Wisteria itself feels built for motion. There’s always another strange path, dangerous creature, magical rule, or hidden history waiting around the corner.

                                      The heart of the book is Chance’s slow movement from self-preservation toward loyalty. Early on, he imagines becoming someone people would admire, someone who doesn’t abandon his friends, and the story keeps testing that wish in practical ways. The line “You only get one chance” becomes more than a portal rule. It’s the moral engine of the book. Chance’s growth works because it doesn’t make him suddenly noble or polished. He’s still funny, impulsive, vain, and scared, but he starts choosing people over escape.

                                      The novel also has a warm sense of compassion for its side characters and even some of its antagonists. Gamboge’s arc, in particular, gives the giant conflict more emotional weight than a simple men-versus-monsters battle. The book is interested in grief, bitterness, courage, and forgiveness, but it handles those themes through action and character rather than slowing down for speeches. Marigold’s sharp wit and fierce independence bring a lot of spark to the story, and her relationship with Chance gives the later chapters a sweet, earned emotional payoff.

                                      One Chance is a fast-moving, funny, and heartfelt fantasy adventure about getting the chance to become better and actually taking it. It has the feel of a classic quest with a modern comic voice, and its best moments come when danger, absurdity, and sincerity all land on the same page. Readers who enjoy portal fantasies with unlikely heroes, magical oddballs, and a strong friendship-driven core will find plenty to enjoy here.

                                      Pages: 304 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GRKGQZ4J

                                      Buy Now From Amazon

                                      Alt...Buy Now From Amazon

                                        [?]OhSnap!Dragon » 🌐
                                        @DrOinOR@mastodon.social

                                        @bbiiirdbPhD

                                        ...And when you're done, you can check out a Banned Book.





                                        Spiderman bound with ropes and being carried by two villains with swords and turbans down a gray corridor with one round porthole. He is saying Are we going to the sex dungeon? I hope we're going to the sex dungeon

                                        Alt...Spiderman bound with ropes and being carried by two villains with swords and turbans down a gray corridor with one round porthole. He is saying Are we going to the sex dungeon? I hope we're going to the sex dungeon

                                          [?]Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue » 🌐
                                          @higginbothampublications.wordpress.com@higginbothampublications.wordpress.com

                                          Exclusive Sneak Peek of Country Tides: Chapter Twelve

                                          Listen Now [SENSITIVE CONTENT]

                                          Listen Now

                                          Exclusive Sneak Peek of Country Tides: Chapter Twelve

                                          Alt...Exclusive Sneak Peek of Country Tides: Chapter Twelve

                                          Exclusive Sneak Peek of Country Tides: Chapter Twelve

                                          Alt...Exclusive Sneak Peek of Country Tides: Chapter Twelve

                                          [?]Readbean » 🌐
                                          @Readbean@pixelfed.social

                                          Animat by Basil Wells

                                          http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64595

                                          #books #reading #bookstodon #scifi #sciencefiction #scifiart #sciencefictionart #retro #retrofuturism #pulpfiction #pulp #bookart #bookcovers #coverart

                                            [?]Sajal Choudhary » 🌐
                                            @sajal24x7@mastodon.social

                                            lithub.com/how-and-why-to-cull

                                            "8. The books to keep are the ones I keep revisiting."

                                            The most important rule in book collecting is to make sure that the ones that are thoroughly underlined and marked up, the ones you found truly revelatory, are easily accessible.

                                            📖 Read more: sajalchoudhary.net/micro/how-a

                                              [?]Niklas Pivic » 🌐
                                              @pivic@kolektiva.social

                                              The End of Reading Is Here - The Atlantic theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/

                                              'The books that people do read are simpler than they used to be. New York Times best sellers today have sentences that are about one-third shorter than they were a century ago. Longer sentences aren’t inherently better. But their former ubiquity suggests an age when Americans had the inclination and ability to read serious works of literature. In 1958, the English translation of Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago was the best-selling novel of the year, according to Publishers Weekly. Pasternak writes in long, complex sentences: “On that warm gray morning in the mountains, Zhivago felt sorry for the Tsar, was disturbed at the thought that such diffident reserve and shyness could be the essential characteristics of an oppressor, that a man so weak could imprison, hang, or pardon.”'

                                              @bookstodon@a.gup.pe @bookstodon@fedigroups.social

                                                [?]Paul Semel » 🌐
                                                @paulsemel@toot.community

                                                Finished reading "A Century Of Poetry In The New Yorker: 1925-2025."
                                                amzn.to/4hzthNz
                                                📖🖊️
                                                No one book could properly survey 100 years of , but while this has some glaring omissions (Bukowski), it came pretty dang close.

                                                Finished reading "A Century Of Poetry In The New Yorker: 1925-2025." No one book could properly survey 100 years of #poetry, but while this has some glaring omissions (Bukowski), it came pretty dang close.

                                                Alt...Finished reading "A Century Of Poetry In The New Yorker: 1925-2025." No one book could properly survey 100 years of #poetry, but while this has some glaring omissions (Bukowski), it came pretty dang close.

                                                  [?]Paula Bardell-Hedley » 🌐
                                                  @BookJotter@toot.wales

                                                  Winding Up the Week #476
                                                  bookjotter.com/2026/07/11/wind
                                                  This week’s round-up gathers recently read and reviewed books, standout literary writing from across the blogosphere and a selection of notable anniversaries (including Bowdler’s Day, Malala Day and Henry David Thoreau’s birthday). It also revisits past posts worth rediscovering and highlights intriguing book-related features from around the Internet.

                                                    [?]Paul Semel » 🌐
                                                    @paulsemel@toot.community

                                                    Finished reading Rich Larson's "Changelog: Collected Fiction."
                                                    amzn.to/4rdEfgV
                                                    📖🤖🚀
                                                    Man, this guy's so good at writing . Can't wait for his next collection.

                                                    Finished reading Rich Larson's "Changelog: Collected Fiction." Man, this guy's so good at writing #ScienceFiction #ShortStories. Can't wait for his next collection.

                                                    Alt...Finished reading Rich Larson's "Changelog: Collected Fiction." Man, this guy's so good at writing #ScienceFiction #ShortStories. Can't wait for his next collection.

                                                      [?]DimmaJo Blog » 🌐
                                                      @dimmajoblog@dimmajoblog.com

                                                      The Two Habits That Improved My Life the Most: Reading and Setting Boundaries.

                                                      The biggest changes in life often come from the smallest habits. For me, reading and learning to say "no" without guilt have transformed the way I think, protect my peace, and pursue my goals. Here's why these simple habits have made such a lasting difference. [SENSITIVE CONTENT]

                                                      What’s one habit that has improved your life the most?

                                                      We often think that changing our lives requires one big breakthrough—a better job, more money, or a lucky opportunity. But the truth is, our lives are usually shaped by the small things we do consistently.

                                                      When I look back at the habits that have had the greatest impact on my life, two stand out above all others: reading and learning to say no—and truly meaning it.

                                                      Neither of these habits transformed my life overnight. They took time, patience, and practice. But together, they changed the way I think, make decisions, and value myself.

                                                      Reading Changed the Way I See the World

                                                      The habits you repeat every day shape the life you live tomorrow

                                                      Reading has become one of the greatest investments I have ever made in myself.

                                                      Every book I read exposes me to new ideas, different perspectives, and lessons that would have taken years to learn through experience alone. Books have taught me about resilience, personal growth, relationships, leadership, and the importance of self-discipline.

                                                      There have been moments when I felt confused or discouraged, and a single chapter from a book gave me the clarity I needed. Sometimes the right sentence arrives exactly when you need it.

                                                      Reading has also taught me that no matter how much I know, there is always something new to learn. That mindset keeps me curious and reminds me that growth never truly ends.

                                                      Learning to Say No

                                                      Not every “yes” is worth your time

                                                      For a long time, saying “no” felt uncomfortable.
                                                      Like many people, I worried about disappointing others or being misunderstood. I often agreed to things I didn’t really want to do simply because I didn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings.

                                                      But over time, I realized something important: every time I said yes to something that didn’t align with my priorities, I was saying no to my own peace, time, and goals.

                                                      Learning to say no wasn’t about becoming rude or selfish. It was about setting healthy boundaries.

                                                      Now, when something doesn’t align with my values, drains my energy, or distracts me from what truly matters, I politely decline.
                                                      And I don’t feel guilty about it anymore.

                                                      Meaning What I Say

                                                      The most important part wasn’t just learning to say no—it was meaning it.

                                                      People quickly notice when your boundaries are weak. If you constantly change your mind because you fear disappointing others, your “no” eventually loses its meaning.

                                                      I’ve learned that respecting myself means standing by my decisions.
                                                      That doesn’t mean being harsh or inflexible. It simply means understanding that I don’t owe everyone an explanation for protecting my time, energy, or peace of mind.

                                                      A firm but respectful “no” is often healthier than a reluctant “yes.”

                                                      Small Habits, Big Results

                                                      Looking back, these habits may seem simple, but their impact has been enormous.

                                                      Reading has strengthened my mind.
                                                      Saying no has protected my peace.
                                                      Meaning what I say has built my confidence.
                                                      None of these habits required money or extraordinary talent. They only required consistency.

                                                      If you’re looking for one place to start improving your life, begin with a habit that helps you grow and another that helps you protect your growth.

                                                      Because the quality of your life is often determined not by the opportunities you receive, but by the habits you choose to practice every single day.

                                                      What habit has improved your life the most? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

                                                      For more interesting reads, click here 👇

                                                      Read. Reflect. Grow

                                                      The Two Habits That Improved My Life the Most: Reading and Setting Boundaries.

                                                      Alt...The Two Habits That Improved My Life the Most: Reading and Setting Boundaries.

                                                      The Two Habits That Improved My Life the Most: Reading and Setting Boundaries.

                                                      Alt...The Two Habits That Improved My Life the Most: Reading and Setting Boundaries.

                                                      The Two Habits That Improved My Life the Most: Reading and Setting Boundaries.

                                                      Alt...The Two Habits That Improved My Life the Most: Reading and Setting Boundaries.

                                                      [?]Tiffini Johnson » 🌐
                                                      @tiffinijohnson.com@tiffinijohnson.com

                                                      Updates from a Writer

                                                      The amount of time I have on my hands now that my nights aren’t spent writing or editing ECHOES is more than I know what to do with. After a few people found their way to the Hartprints Bookshop, I decided to give it a much needed makeover.

                                                      While the books are available anywhere, including Kindle and Amazon and brick and mortar stores, ordering from me gets you free shipping and some goodies thrown in. So, I’ve made the page a lot cleaner and easier to navigate. I’ve also added two specials: one is the opportunity to purchase an ebook for $3.99 and the other is a BOGO offer: buy one paperback and receive one free. Good for any of the 16 books. I’d love for you to take a look at the shop and let me know what you think! (while you can view the page on mobile, desktop works better because I’ve used columns)


                                                      The other thing I did was update the (very long) video on that page that incorporates Whisperroot and Echoes. It is very long, but gives you a very good idea of what you might find within the pages of any of the books.

                                                      I write for connections. I genuinely believe that your story matters–and it really doesn’t matter what it is. People who know me can’t talk about books as much as I can and so hearing from readers really means more to me than I can express. Each review or comment or email or any sort of communication, really, makes me smile and reminds me that kindness is real. If you’ve read something and would like to share, reviews on Amazon are super helpful… and I read every single one!

                                                      Also…

                                                      A shadowy character’s been hanging out in the corners of my mind already… not sure who it is yet but the setting is certainly interesting… I’ve been reading up on groups of people I didn’t know existed… from, like, the 12-1400 era… I’m thinking a trip to the library is in store soon..

                                                      [?]chris h - author » 🌐
                                                      @StitchedInkMedia@flipboard.social

                                                      If given a choice between one or another, a general rule of books: the thinner one is better.

                                                        [?]LaraK » 🌐
                                                        @Lara@metalhead.club

                                                        My reading wrap up of June according to Storygraph

                                                        Graphs and statistics: Lara read 23 books or 3758 pages in June

                                                        Alt...Graphs and statistics: Lara read 23 books or 3758 pages in June

                                                          [?]EveryLibrary » 🌐
                                                          @everylibrary@mastodon.social

                                                          Like, follow, and share if you love libraries, literacy, and books!

                                                            [?]Fathom Publishing » 🌐
                                                            @FathomPublishing@mastodon.social

                                                            Life was different in the 1970s, particularly for one northern town with residents who treated each other like family and who only needed two things for survival: their wits and courage.

                                                            🔗 The Way It Used To Be: Stories from a Northern Town by Diane Solie Smith is on sale: dlvr.it/TTSFBr

                                                              [?]TheClassicBee » 🌐
                                                              @theclassicbee.wordpress.com@theclassicbee.wordpress.com

                                                              From frustration to peace

                                                              Initially I would get frustrated and angry when the laptop at work got slow and buffer at each step.
                                                              Now, I’ve started to use that time to read my book on Kindle app. It’s peaceful now ✌🏻😊

                                                                [?]Zhi Zhu 🕸️ » 🌐
                                                                @ZhiZhu@newsie.social

                                                                @pluralistic

                                                                Appreciate the reference to "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas".

                                                                For those who aren't familiar with it, it's a short story written by Ursula K. Le Guin that "depicts a summer festival in the utopian city of Omelas, whose prosperity depends on the perpetual misery of a single child."
                                                                en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ones

                                                                You can read the entire story (it's only 4 pages long) here:
                                                                files.libcom.org/files/ursula-

                                                                It's worth reading.

                                                                  [?]Christina Dongowski » 🌐
                                                                  @Tinido@chaos.social

                                                                  „(…) arguing that we will never know what happened, indeed, cannot know, that the obstacle is (…), but the shape of the human mind. We are “blind” to those events and even to our blindness.“

                                                                  Fiction and seem to me the only forms left to do metaphysics in a way that takes metaphysics seriously.
                                                                  This story is a great example: Disturbing & weirdly beautiful report on when reality stops the sense making.

                                                                  jewishcurrents.org/the-event

                                                                    [?]A. Rivera » 🌐
                                                                    @bloodravenlib@mas.to

                                                                    If you wonder why the is circling the drain, wonder no further. . .

                                                                    > Americans more likely to place a bet than read, with less than half cracking open a book in a year: survey nypost.com/2026/07/09/us-news/

                                                                    🎲

                                                                      [?]A. Rivera » 🌐
                                                                      @bloodravenlib@boriken.social

                                                                      If you wonder why the is circling the drain, wonder no further. . .

                                                                      > Americans more likely to place a bet than read, with less than half cracking open a book in a year: survey nypost.com/2026/07/09/us-news/

                                                                      🎲

                                                                        [?]Curtis » 🌐
                                                                        @curtis_himself@mastodon.social

                                                                        Das Foto zeigt das Schaufenster eines Buchladens mit vielen Büchern hinter der Scheibe. Auf der Glasscheibe die Aufschrift "Betrüge dein Handy ab und zu mit einem Buch"

                                                                        Alt...Das Foto zeigt das Schaufenster eines Buchladens mit vielen Büchern hinter der Scheibe. Auf der Glasscheibe die Aufschrift "Betrüge dein Handy ab und zu mit einem Buch"

                                                                          [?]Patrick W. Marsh » 🌐
                                                                          @patrickwmarshauthor.wordpress.com@patrickwmarshauthor.wordpress.com

                                                                          Beware the Ills: Part 51

                                                                          They’re not far ahead of me. I will meet them soon. I have not thought about the outcome yet; specifically, how I will spare her, and how I will kill Haukter. I really don’t have any answers on how I will accomplish these things. I can only theorize and act on instinct. I’m in the forest now. I’ve just cleared the outskirts of the Shingles. Those walking machines the invaders used were maniacal and blind, they caused unmatched damage. I don’t know how future Guardians will be against these advancements. If I spare her, and she can return, maybe that will cease the invasions. It’ll make them realize there’s nothing on this island but monsters and shattered warriors.

                                                                          She must return to them.

                                                                          The evening’s going to be arriving soon. I hope they can still light the torches for me and my hunt. The battle in the city, which appeared to last only a few moments, took the entire afternoon. I will never understand how time passes in combat. Another blood riddle for my memory and life, which lives like a blur.

                                                                          I’m tired on the inside. I will not show it, but I am.

                                                                          The poison, Blue, the Diamond Town, it has all been exhausting. Blue was more deserving of a shallow grave though, I had to do it right, I had to dig it deep. He had value.

                                                                          He had love.

                                                                          I’m running between the trees; they’re quiet, solemn, and awaiting the night. They look so permanent, so sturdy, it’s hard to believe anything could topple them, but our axes do it all the time.

                                                                          At least they grow back.

                                                                          I must concentrate. I cannot be distracted. The chances of me making a mistake are growing exponentially. After the encroachers there is only Haukter. I have absolutely no idea how I will deal with him. Not having confidence hurts. I’m not comfortable, or familiar with this feeling.

                                                                          I’m almost to the river. They’ll be crossing it. The same watery spine as before, with its frosty marks of blood. They’ll still be there. I don’t want to see them. Maybe some of the cold and snow will smear away the marks. All this combat and strife, and the snow still twinkles in uncensored petals.   

                                                                          The natural world isn’t without a sense of humor.

                                                                          The trees are thinning ahead, the river will be nearby. I can hear them panting and running on the plates of ice. They panicked; they know I’m on their trail, and not the Ills who are too decimated. The Ills don’t pose a threat to anything or anyone. They’ve outgrown their bloodlust, and their violence. That means something to me. I don’t really know what, but I can feel it behind my eyes. The pain in my body from the battle feels illuminating. It has been so long since I’ve felt it.

                                                                          I appreciate its splendor, its reality.

                                                                          I know they’re not far. I’m curious to see their state. I break through the forest’s edge and the open land splits between the river and westward woods. The ice plates are moving in the center of the dark river line.

                                                                          It’s them. 

                                                                          Fifty, just fifty of the invading force. They’re staggering and trembling as they run. Their brown armor has been shredded and covered with slight crystals of frost. They have glistening wounds as well, but they keep running for the shore. I must give them credit for running in that state. She’s running as well. Apparently, my wound was painful, but not debilitating. Something moves on the opposite side of the shore. A form lunges out from the trees and onto the plates.

                                                                          It’s Haukter.

                                                                          He’s moving fast, at a full, hide-covered sprint. I can’t even see his feet touch the ground beneath the animal layers. They see him immediately. He’s a bit noticeable. I would hope they’d see him. I stop and sink back into the thin trees. I’ll leap into the fray, but I’ll have to play it just right.

                                                                          Haukter has a weapon on his left side. It’s the big cleaver from before, with the strange handle. They fire arrows at him from their crossbows. His right sleeve flails up and knocks them away leisurely, yet violently, a strange combination of skill and rage.

                                                                          I won’t intervene yet.

                                                                          I must surprise him. I must take out one of his eyes to handicap him. I need the advantage. I’m too exhausted.

                                                                          He releases the chained clever at them in a metallic twirl. The cleaver makes a light humming sound as it spins towards them. They must be panicking. They’re running in a clump, and not spreading out. The blade hits them. A few avoid it, but the rest are cut in half at the waist.

                                                                          Quite the weapon, I’ll have to hurry.

                                                                          Haukter retracts the cleaver back to him with a pull of his left sleeve. The range of the attack gives the invaders a few moments to recover. She charges Haukter totally normal, and not controlled by rage. Her axe dangles out at him as she closes the distance. Haukter recoils the weapon in a quick snap and holds it in front of his body. The remaining men skillfully fire arrows at him around her charging form. He knocks them away again with his right sleeve, not that they could pierce his hides. His brown rod falls out of his fabric. He swings it, and a cloud of red darts with white feathers breaks the air. She ducks, but the men behind her fall to the ground, convulsing and thrashing.

                                                                          Soon they’ll be dead.

                                                                          I’ll be releasing my novel Beware the Ills in segments every Friday. You can find out more about the book right here, or check out Amazon’s info. I love this book. Happy to simply share it. 

                                                                            [?]Patrick W. Marsh » 🌐
                                                                            @patrickwritesmonsters@mastodon.social

                                                                            It is Friday. That means a cursed island, cannibals, giant squids, airships, swordfights, and much more. Enjoy Beware the Ills. You're approaching the end.

                                                                            patrickwmarshauthor.wordpress.

                                                                              [?]Hussein Al-alak » 🌐
                                                                              @husseinalalak@mastodon.social

                                                                              Reading for 10 minutes a day can bring about big changes and this was the first set of books put out on Wednesday evening for adults wanting a free book for the Summer.

                                                                              As it's the National Year Of Reading, people can also get involved with making books accessible through Little Free Libraries, residents associations and book swap schemes.

                                                                              Reading for 10 minutes a day can bring about big changes and this was the first set of books put out on Wednesday evening for adults wanting a free book for the Summer. As it's the National Year Of Reading, people can also get involved with making books accessible through Little Free Libraries, residents associations and book swap schemes.

                                                                              Alt...Reading for 10 minutes a day can bring about big changes and this was the first set of books put out on Wednesday evening for adults wanting a free book for the Summer. As it's the National Year Of Reading, people can also get involved with making books accessible through Little Free Libraries, residents associations and book swap schemes.

                                                                                [?]Nick East (Loops) » 🌐
                                                                                @Fareon@loops.video

                                                                                Gonna write down ALL the words! 😂

                                                                                #BookMemes #Meme #Humor #Humour #Funny #NotOC #ReadingMemes #Reading #Readers #ReadingCommunity #Litterature #Novel #Bookshelf #Dictionary #Books #Bookstodon

                                                                                Alt...Sketch making fun of the first guy to come up with the idea for a dictionary.

                                                                                [?]TinDrum » 🌐
                                                                                @oscarjiminy@aus.social

                                                                                @standardebooks The Horned Helmet by Henry Treece

                                                                                I loved it so much my grade 4 teacher let me keep one of the books from the class set (they were all falling apart anyway)

                                                                                This is that same copy she gave me, i've had this book almost 50 years

                                                                                Image of the cover of a torn and batter old childrens' book with the lower part of an illustration of a viking

                                                                                Alt...Image of the cover of a torn and batter old childrens' book with the lower part of an illustration of a viking

                                                                                  [?]Sophia Jane Hayden, Author » 🌐
                                                                                  @sophiajanehayden_author@indieauthors.social

                                                                                  The Fifth Seduction ebook is $2.99 at all online retailers. Two lovers, one secret, and a reality TV executive who finally can't cut around the truth--The Fifth Seduction begins where the cameras usually stop. A weekend in Malibu ignites an affair between two women showrunners, upending their lives. For readers who walk their own emotional and professional tightropes fueled by love and ambition.

                                                                                  Julia Frank had a five-year crush on her producing partner, Mable La Croix. One weekend affair in Malibu upends their personal and professional lives in The Fifth Seduction.

                                                                                  Alt...Julia Frank had a five-year crush on her producing partner, Mable La Croix. One weekend affair in Malibu upends their personal and professional lives in The Fifth Seduction.

                                                                                    [?]Get Lost in a Book Reviews » 🌐
                                                                                    @virginia-gruver.com@virginia-gruver.com

                                                                                    Bamboozled by Barbara Barrett

                                                                                    This is the second in the Mah Jongg Mystery series. Barbara is a friend and local author. I read the first book Craks in a Marriage a few years ago, but I became interested in reading more of this series after I recently took a Mah Jong class. (If you’re wondering why I have it spelled two different ways, it’s because I am not sure of the proper way to spell Mah Jong because the author spells it with two g’s but the class I took was one g. Maybe both are correct?) Now that I have taken the class, the terms used in the books now make sense. I am hoping to become part of a regular Mah Jong group soon.

                                                                                    This book is about Sydney and Trip Bonner, a husband and wife. Sydney is part of a Mah Jongg group in Florida. Her husband golfs with some of the other husbands. After the first book, Trip asked Syd not to get involved in investigating any more murders. He became involved with this one, thinking he could protect her. Of course he doesn’t do a very good job of it.

                                                                                    When Dorcus Wiley is found murdered, Cathy, one of Syd’s Mah Jongg friends is accused of murder. Her and her husband ask Syd and Marianne, another Mah Jongg player to help them prove her innocence. In the last book Syd and Marianne were the main sleuths.

                                                                                    Cathy had been working for the victim to help sell essential oils. It sounded like a pyramid scheme that went bad. All the people who worked along with Cathy for Dorcas became suspects.

                                                                                    While investigating the murder, they are also dealing with Kat, another Mah Jongg buddy who is dealing with breast cancer.

                                                                                    Syd and Trip follow the clues in hopes of finding Cathy innocent. They meet some questionable characters. We also find out that Kat has a police Sheriff who is romantically interested in her. He finds out about her illness and while concerned for Kat he also must keep warning Syd and Trip to leave the investigation to the police.

                                                                                    This is an interesting cozy mystery. There were enough suspects to keep me guessing until the end. I liked the human aspect of this story with Kat’s illness and how the friends supported her while trying to help Cathy.

                                                                                    I enjoyed the scenes that included information about Mah Jongg. I do believe that readers who understand Mah Jongg may get more out of this series. I know it made more sense to me after I had taken the classes.

                                                                                    I like the characters and the setting and do plan to read more in this series. I did mention the books to my Mah Jongg class and know that at least one person had already started reading the first book.

                                                                                    I do enjoy reading all my friend’s books. I often catch myself hearing their voice as I read. I also like the cover art it reflects the humor.

                                                                                    My one problem with this book was the number of characters. Sometimes I had to go back to make sure I knew who – was who. I also thought Cathy and Kat’s names were too similar. I got them mixed up at first. I do understand why there might be so many characters because of the number of players in Mah Jongg. I will read more to see if this becomes less confusing for me in future books.

                                                                                    If you like a good cozy mystery and are curious about Mah Jongg, I recommend this series. I would suggest starting with the first book in the series, Craks in a Marriage.

                                                                                    First published April 3, 2018

                                                                                    I include links to purchase. As an associate, I earn from qualified purchases. Thanks to all my readers who have supported me in the past.

                                                                                    A few books in this series by Barbara Barrett:

                                                                                    Bamboozled

                                                                                    Craks in a Marriage

                                                                                    Flower Power

                                                                                    Beware of the East Wind

                                                                                    Off the Rack

                                                                                    Connect the Dots

                                                                                    What I am currently reading:

                                                                                    Erie Ending by Christy J. Kendall

                                                                                    Last Night was Killer by Mary Pauline Lowry

                                                                                    I am discovering lots of new authors this year, thanks to NetGalley and recommendations from friends. If you have read a book, you think I should read, please leave a comment. I have found some of my favorite books from friends.

                                                                                    Happy Reading!

                                                                                    If you like a bargain. Check out my online bookshop at Pango Books.https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/virginia468417

                                                                                    Rate this:

                                                                                      [?]Trevor McLeod » 🌐
                                                                                      @tabmcleo@mastodon.social

                                                                                      Unfortunately, many who follow this link won't read the whole article, never mind a book. Unfortunate since this is a REALLY good read.

                                                                                      theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/

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