we love a good literary device in the title, don’t you?
prompt #5 in the Spring Mini Reading Challenge calls for a book with an alliterative title - we have two excellent recs for you & as always, a couple more listed below the cut :)
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
The Bee, the Sword and the Key. And Ezra somehow inbetween. The Starless Sea tells a story about stories, about storytelling, about fate, time and sometimes about cats that live in a haven for book lovers far beneath the surface of the earth. There is past hurt and future vengeance and timeless searches for the one you lost. And Ezra only wanted to find out why his own memories were written in a book in his university library. (blurb by @upside-down-uni)
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker, PhD
In this book Matthew Walker (Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology, founder of the Center For Human Sleep Science) explores 20 years of research in an attempt to answer the question of why we sleep. With the help of examples of human subject research as well as other members of the animal kingdom, Walker explains sleep-related topics such as what purpose REM sleep serves, how our sleep patterns change throughout our life and how caffeine and alcohol affect our sleep. All in a very accessible, easy to follow way. (blurb by server member Hannah)
Book prompt- Published before you were born: To the lighthouse- Virginia Woolf: I finally made it! I wanted to read this book for literal ages and I started it this year, but only now finished it. I didn’t really like it unfortunately. Neither the story nor the characters were interesting to me.
I only managed 8 fills out of the 16 over the duration of the challenge, though I did read a couple more books that didn’t fit the bingo requirements. was still fun to take part in, though I didn’t manage a bingo and did forget that this blog existed for a bit (it’s a habit of mine, I’m sorry XD)
I am almost done with the 2022 genre bingo, weirdly enough. I would have never thought I’d be at this point so soon. I have no idea yet what I will read for he last prompt. I am pretty surely not finishing the spring reding challenge in time, since I paused two non-fiction books I was reading for it, due to all my thesis work. I will continue doing it but with longer times. My whole reason for doing these challenges is to find motivation to read books I already own but I haven’t read yet, and to go out of my comfort zone aswell.
I was going to read another book for this prompt, a non-fiction, but since as I said I have paused non-fiction reads that don’t concern uni at the moment I decided to switch. I am actually happy I chose this one for this prompt, I unfortunately haven’t had that much good bisexual representation in the stuff I consume, and haveing a book that represents a character that identifies as me felt really good. What can I say about this book? It’s insanely popular for a reason, it’s absolutely addictive, you cannot help but to fall in love with the characters, and overall it feels realistic. The feelings the characters feel are complicated, and not idealized, I just really loved this book. It kept me glued to the pages, and I am pretty sure I will reread it multiple times in the future.
The reason I picked this manga for this prompt is not necessarily the fact that I have never heard anyone talk about it. The thing is I do not read mangas, so even if people talk about this a lot I would have no idea. I decided to pick this book for the underhyped prompt, because I had no hype whatsoever for it. So the lack of hype comes all from me. I was gifted this book recently, and it was quite unexpected. I do love comics, and I love graphic novels, but I never read mangas. I generally prefer other art styles, and I rever really got into this very peculiar comic art. So this read was a completly new experience. I was really unsure going into this, because as I said I have never really like this type of read. I decided to use this prompt and my lack of hype to motivate myself in going out of my comfort zone. I did enjoy it more than I though, I am even considering getting the next volumes to continue the story. I am happy I used this challenge to read something I would have never picked up for myself.
a magical story about two anxious teenagers learning how to deal with some of their issues. queer, fun, relatable and a gorgeous cover!
when the moon was ours - mclemore 4☆ (banned book)
this book left me with intense yearning for that feeling of belonging. very gentle storytelling of a heartbreaking and heartwarming tale with beautiful stylistic choices!
ella minnow pea - dunn 4.5☆ (epistolary)
a clever story about perseverance and the consequences of limited language. a hopeful dystopia that makes you laugh along the way
currently reading: in other lands - brennan (underhyped prompt)
I’ve made some progress in the Spring Reading Challenge (I’m not sure I’ll finish it, but here goes):
An epistolary novella: I read Silène Edgar’s Inconnue à cette Adresse (in french) which is an SF rewriting of the famous novella of the same name about the rise of totalitarianism.
Banned book: Well… I’m straying from the prompt here but Asja Bakić’s short story collection Mars (translated into french) discusses the topic. In the last short story, ‘Mars’, all books and authors are banned on Mars, deemed too dangerous for the Earth. I liked those short stories, they all had this disturbing quality I hadn’t encountered in a while.
Nature element in the title: I recently finished The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (in english). It is masterfully executed and you do want to identify with Theo somewhat, but I didn’t like it so much. Especially the metaphysical lesson-giving at the end, which I found…. if not cliché at least uninteresting.
Book prompt -Banned Book:The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian- Sherman Alexie: This was a nice one! I really liked the setting, the main character and just the writing in general. At times funny, at times heartbreaking- but never too much. For me it felt more like a middle-school book than young adult, even though there are some profanities in it.
we have not one but two reading challenges coming soon, so u can really get in that summer reading :) there’s gonna be a: 1.PRIDE READING CHALLENGE where it’ll be all about lgbtq+ books 2.SUMMER READING CHALLENGE 2.0 - similar to the original challenge that started it all, but with fresh prompts
if you want to be tagged in the announcement post for either of them, reblogthis post and put into the tags which taglist you want to be added to (can ofc be both!); you have till May 25th to do so x
since this is a mini reading bingo, we’re only putting two books into the spotlight, but there are additional recs beneath the cut!
Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos De Laclos
Gossip Girl but make it a 1782 French classic! The story between La Marquise de Meurteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, who send each other letters and try to play a game of influencing other people on their court. They think of other people as pieces of their game that they can manipulate as they want. Excess, drama, intrigue, and splendour you can only find among French aristocracy in the 18th century. (blurb by @fluencylevelfrench)
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
How will you tell your friend about that movie you liked when the letters o, d, z and a are banned? How will you defend yourself and those who need you when only l, m, n, o, p remain? Long ago, a small island community formed around the famous “the quick fox jumped over the lazy dog” sentence: but now, a letter has fallen off the statue and the council agrees it’s a sign they should stop using the letter. Any use of it is banned and it can’t be replaced by other letters or signs - words containing the letter are forbidden too and whoever dares to break the ban will face severe punishment. The story is told in letters by Ella, her cousin and her family and we watch the story unfold as, one by one, the letters fall off until only l m n o p remain. 8/5 dogears, language nerds will love this! (blurb by @hannistudies)
RULES: like with our previous reading challenges, the rules are pretty flexible, since the whole point of this is to motivate you to read just a little bit more :) the challenge starts on april 1st and ends with may 30th, but you’re welcome to finish it at your own pace → use the tag #studyblr w/knives reading challengewhen you post your updates/pics → the challenge is ofc, as usual, also on storygraph (check the notes for the link)
once you’ve read a book that fits a prompt, cross it out on the above template and/or share your thoughts on it in a post here on tumblr; make sure to mark any spoilers (hide them under a cut etc.), so people can avoid them if needed :) you can also have just one post and update it as you go, or you can post good ol’ aesthetic book pics!
as always, if you have any questions, feel free to send them to me or any other member in the taglist below xx
you’ll hear it everywhere in the next month and you’ll hear it here too: Pride Month is every month and you’re not less entitled to happiness outside of these random 30 days! So, we’re kicking off our queer reading challenge with a bang in June and will be serving you hot and steaming queer recs for the next couple of months! we hope you enjoy it as much as our previous challenges; worry not, there will also be a Summer Reading Challenge 2.0, since so many people enjoyed it last year :)
RULES:
◆ please reblog this post if you’re participating
◆ for each of the prompts, read a book of your choice and cross the prompt out on the above template
◆ post your updates in the form of text posts, bookish photos, or anything else you come up with under the tag #studyblr w/knives reading challenge!
◆ the challenge will last from the 1st of june till the 31st of december, but feel free to finish it at your own pace
! be sure to hide any spoilers under the cut when posting updates/reviews, so people can avoid them if needed :)
if you want to make this a Pride Month only challenge or if you’re just starting to dip your toes into lgbtq+ literature, we have a template with fewer prompts for you as well (see below the cut). the storygraph challenge has the corresponding number of bonus prompts, so you can tailor it to your own preference
if you have any questions, feel free to send them to me or @bulletnotestudies
stay tuned for our recommendations for each prompt!
[transcript of the prompts and what each of them means under the cut]
when i posted the first summer reading challenge a year ago, i honestly never thought so many people would participate and so many more challenges would be put together and enjoyed in good company :“) so thanks to everyone who’s joined up till now, i’m so glad these are as fun to take on as they are to design! summer is just around the corner and we have a fresh hot sunny reading challenge ready for you! and if you want, you can also check out the 2022 pride reading challenge
RULES: -> please reblog this post if you’re participating -> for each of the prompts, read a book of your choice and cross the prompt out on the above template -> post your updates in the form of text posts, bookish photos, or anything else you come up with under the tag #studyblr w/knives reading challenge! -> the challenge will last from the 1st of june till the 30th of september, but feel free to finish it at your own pace
! be sure to hide any spoilers under the cut when posting updates/reviews, so people can avoid them if needed :)
as always, the prompts are transcribed below the cut and if you want to join the challenge on Storygraph as well, check out the notes of this post. if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in my inbox!
queer found family: The Hourglass Throne by K. D. Edwards // 5 stars
reminder to go check out the cw on the authors website!
Where do I even start with this book? It has unlocked at least 12 new emotions, made me physically scream and completely eradicated my ability to communicate like a normal person. This book ticked All The Boxes. All of them. The family is FOUND. Oh my GOD is this family found I am going to cry about this for months???? Honorable mention to Rune Saint John and Brandon Saint John for making me experience what the allos call YearningTM because their friendship. their devotion. their trust and understanding. I have no words. Where do I sign up to become a companion?? Apart from the to die for character dynamics theres also plot that is fast and dense and political and so spicy and good and interwoven it was a joy to peel back all the layers the further I read! I’m down bad for the worldbuilding and the rules magic and this beautiful urban fantasy setting. If the speed at which I decoured these books doesn’t tell you how hyped I am I don’t know what will. New blorbos from my books have arrived. Thank you for your attention. I will now go be normal about Rune Saint John and his family. Good night.
you’ll hear it everywhere in the next month and you’ll hear it here too: Pride Month is every month and you’re not less entitled to happiness outside of these random 30 days! So, we’re kicking off our queer reading challenge with a bang in June and will be serving you hot and steaming queer recs for the next couple of months! we hope you enjoy it as much as our previous challenges; worry not, there will also be a Summer Reading Challenge 2.0, since so many people enjoyed it last year :)
RULES:
◆ please reblog this post if you’re participating
◆ for each of the prompts, read a book of your choice and cross the prompt out on the above template
◆ post your updates in the form of text posts, bookish photos, or anything else you come up with under the tag #studyblr w/knives reading challenge!
◆ the challenge will last from the 1st of june till the 31st of december, but feel free to finish it at your own pace
! be sure to hide any spoilers under the cut when posting updates/reviews, so people can avoid them if needed :)
if you want to make this a Pride Month only challenge or if you’re just starting to dip your toes into lgbtq+ literature, we have a template with fewer prompts for you as well (see below the cut). the storygraph challenge has the corresponding number of bonus prompts, so you can tailor it to your own preference
if you have any questions, feel free to send them to me or @bulletnotestudies
stay tuned for our recommendations for each prompt!
[transcript of the prompts and what each of them means under the cut]
when i posted the first summer reading challenge a year ago, i honestly never thought so many people would participate and so many more challenges would be put together and enjoyed in good company :“) so thanks to everyone who’s joined up till now, i’m so glad these are as fun to take on as they are to design! summer is just around the corner and we have a fresh hot sunny reading challenge ready for you! and if you want, you can also check out the 2022 pride reading challenge
RULES: -> please reblog this post if you’re participating -> for each of the prompts, read a book of your choice and cross the prompt out on the above template -> post your updates in the form of text posts, bookish photos, or anything else you come up with under the tag #studyblr w/knives reading challenge! -> the challenge will last from the 1st of june till the 30th of september, but feel free to finish it at your own pace
! be sure to hide any spoilers under the cut when posting updates/reviews, so people can avoid them if needed :)
as always, the prompts are transcribed below the cut and if you want to join the challenge on Storygraph as well, check out the notes of this post. if you have any questions, feel free to leave them in my inbox!
