(K)nitwit

Knitting, anime and books

[3eggy5me]

[bojanus]

Mid-Year Book Freak Out

Thank you for the tag @falliblefabrial, since my new years resolution this year was to read more, it's exciting to lay out some of my reading so far mid way through the year :D

Number of books you’ve read so far: 29

Best book you’ve read so far in 2024:

Though I've read several fantastic books, I'm gonna highlight Sex Bunker Apocalypse by Adam Brink here. It was among the first handful of books I picked up this year to start reading more, and its fast pace and pure commitment to its premise made it an engaging read. The setup is uniquely zany (three people bunker down in a sex shop during an apocalypse, and when they leave it the world has changed in fantastical ways), and it's executed with such heart and sincerity that I was invested from the first page to the final one.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2024: 

I have a terrible habit of reading like, the mid-series or even final books of romance series without reading the first books, but thankfully they're usually designed for each book to stand on its own.

So far my favorite has been An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera, which is technically #2 in the Las Leonas trilogy. I discovered this year that I'm a sucker for historical romance, but was struggling to find a good execution of a sapphic historical romance until THIS book. The pairing is great, there's a delicious push and pull of the power dynamic since each have something the other wants, but it's also grounded in some real historical context of the lesbian scene in Paris. Lovable characters, real stakes, and tension that culminates in some decadent sex scenes!

New release you haven’t read yet but want to: 

I have Don't Want You Like a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban and A Blustocking's Guide to Decadence by Jess Everlee on some of my libby lists. I may or may not read them depending on library availability. Can you tell I'm trawling the "sapphic historical romance" tags? XD.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:

I'm not super plugged in to release schedules and such, so currently don't have anything in particular anticipated!

Biggest surprise favorite new author (debut or new to you): 

If you can believe it, I never read any Jane Austen until this year and I am now HOOKED. Pride & Prejudice, Emma, and Persuasion are the ones I've read so far, and each one continually delights me. Despite being written over 200 years ago, her characterizations, emotions, and social foibles are timeless. I remember in Emma there's a section towards the end where a woman excitedly reads a letter her crush sent her to a friend and I was like "!!!! That's literally just like today, like sending screenshots of texts in the groupchat!!!!" So even though I am no expert in some of the historical nuances, I find the characters and their interactions SO relatable they feel like something I could find today.

Newest fictional crush:

In The Salvation Gambit by Emily Skrutskie, there's a super hot lady who works in a forge carved out of a spaceship making weapons, and she's described SO cool and hot and competent and sweaty... Ahaha I drooled (honestly all the women in that book are hot)

Book that made you cry: 

Okay well let's be real I'll cry at almost any book, but I'll specify that I cried while reading Satisfaction Guaranteed by Karelia Stetz-Waters. It's an adult romance that felt very grounded, and there were some particular scenes about following your dreams and such that touched my heart (plus the beginning is a funeral! There are funny bits but there is also some sincere grief that got to me).

Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received): 

The Stars too Fondly by Emily Hamilton has a beautiful cover that matches the book very well.

Book that made you happy: 

The Gentleman's Gambit by Evie Dunmore was the first modern-written historical romance I read this year (I had read some Jane Austen prior, which is of course slightly different vibe), and revealed to me just how fun and engaging historical romance can be. I remember literally kicking my feet and giggling because I was so invested and delighted in how things played out.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year?: 

Well currently A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers just arrived on my libby, so I need to read that soon before the loan runs out. I also just ordered Endurance by Elaine Burns since I'm in a bit of a sapphic sci-fi mood, so once that's here I hope to read it. I also am pretty sure I need to finally read Murderbot at some point (it's the kind of thing where I've heard so many good things about it that I'm pretty sure I'll love it, but then once I've read it it'll be over ahaha so I keep "saving" it for later).

No pressure tags (if you want to ignore, I will not be offended): @lifeofmysteries, @3eggy5me, @meiioh, @avatar-masterofallfandoms, @musicallynerdy

[3eggy5me]

Mid-Year Book Freak Out

Thank you for the tag @bojanus, I am bad at responding to things, but love seeing these on my feed! Time to create the things I love to see in the world ;)

Number of books you’ve read so far: 126

Best book you’ve read so far in 2024:

The Skull by Jon Klassen - it was a children's book that really plays with the construct of children's media. Based on a folk tale, a young girl leaves her home and finds a beautiful home with a sentient skull living inside - but the skull is chased every night by its body. Beautiful illustrations, eerie, fun.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2024: 

In fact... I don't think I've read a sequel this year! I've read some books in a series (without finishing them), but I don't think I've read two related books. Or a sequel or a prequel...

New release you haven’t read yet but want to: 

I really want to read Northranger, by Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo! I love books inspired by or adapting classics. And the concept of Northanger Abbey in modern-day Texas sounds incredible!

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:

I... do not know. I haven't been following new releases too closely. I feel like I just wake up one day and get pleasantly surprised. If I could manifest more books from Evie Dunmore (no, I haven't yet read Gentleman's Gambit, and yes, I do want to) or another release from Cat Sebastian... I enjoy their romance work. I've been enjoying the manga series, A Sign Of Affection and The Apothecary Diaries, so I'd take more of those, too.

Biggest surprise favorite new author (debut or new to you): 

I read two books by Sayaka Murata this year. She's a Japanese author, and I read Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings. They both feature sort of... off-kilter women as the main characters, observing society as inherent outsiders. They are very different sides of the contemporary lit spectrum, in terms of content/trigger warnings. But there was something SO fascinating about her approach and style. BUT! I also got super into Kurt Vonnegut (I read two books). He's SO funny! Wow! Cat's Cradle and God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian. I'm looking forward to reading more and more.

Newest fictional crush:

I am, in fact, a huge hater. There's no one. :/

Book that made you cry: 

I looooved the play Dear Elizabeth, by Sarah Ruhl. It is made using the letters between Elizabeth Bishop and her long-time friend, Robert Lowell. Letters and friendship, across distance... It is so nice. Admiration. Advice on writing. Struggles with health. Living... Sigh. To be fair, I cry reading a lot of books. But this one felt significant.

Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received): 

Honestly, I haven't bought that many books this year! Apartment living is hard. I did get a book signed, for FREE, at an event. Called Road Home, by Rex Ogle. Getting it signed makes it feel beautiful - sooo we'll say that one. :)

Book that made you happy: 

I work in publishing! So holding one of my first creator owned books in my hands this year was very very meaningful. Besides that though, I really enjoyed reading James Kochalka's graphic novel diary series. My local library had ebooks of the series - until very suddenly, they didn't. I'll never know what happens after 2011.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year?: 

I would like to read at least one more Kurt Vonnegut this year. I'm also currently reading A Lost Lady by Willa Cather and The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada. So I definitely need to finish those! But - I also want to read Robin by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Piccolo, finish out some manga series I started... Read some low fantasy cozy-core romance books... Maybe pick up another Haruki Murakami book... Etc. Etc. I'll inevitably read like thirty more graphic novels, minimum, as well. And with that... I do not really have anyone to tag. So I suppose, do it because you want to. :)

[fiberfantasies]

Fiber arts is just Math in sheep's clothing

[bookcub]

starting my reading for my contemporary ya class and uh,,, im confused how this first one became a classic

[aliteraryprincess]

Have you posted the syllabus? I'd love to see it.

[bookcub]

i don't know if i have, but here it is! i am only excited for the three i have already read (the outsiders, the hate u give, and dumplin') but as this isn't really my genre, i am trying to stay open minded.

my mom pointed out read forever . . . might be fun because that's what she read as a teen and i could approach it from that perspective. also a lot of these books have low low ratings and i will be checking trigger warnings for the books ahead

[3eggy5me]

I actually had Seventeenth Summer in my thesis waaaaay back when. It's considered one of the first YA titles, by some scholars. If not one of them, it established tropes we are in later YA.

I've heard really good things about I'll Be The One, so I'd be curious what your thoughts are, when the time comes!

Fingers crossed some books surprise you pleasantly! 🥰

[bookcub]

apparently i have access to a database that ranks YA books for libraries as essential, recommended, supplemental, and weeded and i want to type in so many books so send me ya titles and i will let you know how this database categorizes them!!!

[3eggy5me]

What's the name of the database? That sounds really cool!

Also, uh, what about Needle & Thread? It's a graphic novel for teens.

[lost-victorian-sailor]

...or maybe it is just me

[letsreadwomen]

I need to suggest a banned book for book club, suggestions?

I’m particularly interested in books that are:

Set in and / or banned in countries outside the West

Written by a woman

Not graphic novels (with apologies to Maus and Persepolis)

Not kids or YA

[bookcub]

the god of small things by arundhati roy is a good for a book club. i wouldnt say i enjoyed it but it invites in good conversations

i haven't found any evidence that toni morrison's books have been banned outside of the us, but i could have sworn i had heard they were previously, so maybe consider looking at her books?

[letsreadwomen]

Ive opted for the god of small things because its one i know fairly little about, the other books on the banned lists are either in a genre / topic I’m not super interested in or feel a bit too didactic. Pretty sure someone else already suggested Morrison anyway, so now we just gotta see which one gets the vote!

Anyway banned book articles make for really good reading, and I’m going to keep looking for more non-western ones as the current news output is very USA-focused.

[bookcub]

It's a memorable book, and definitely set not in the US and I'm not sure if it is banned in India, but I remember my prof saying she had to publish it outside of India because she couldn't publish it there. so even if it isn't banned, it has been censored in a way.

[3eggy5me]

I had a rec that fit your general criteria (banned in non-Western countries, written by a woman, not a graphic novel, and not for the youths^tm). That said, it's a pretty rough read with a lot of triggers, so maybe not the best for a book club lol - but I think it's a REALLY interesting read regardless.

It's called Red Azalea by Anchee Min. It's a memoir of the author's life growing up in China during the cultural revolution as a queer girl/woman. As you can imagine, there's a lot of pain and trauma in the book, but it's a really beautifully written translated work.

[celepom]

It’s Pride 2023! Time to put up some more comic recs!

This time I’ve put together some stories about discovering one’s own queer identity, outlining a family history of queerness, and several stories where being queer isn’t the focus - queer characters are simply allowed to be.

Keep reading

[3eggy5me]

Stage Dreams by Melanie Gillman

The Well by Jake Wyatt and Choo

Paranorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-Hope-Calypse by Stephanie Cooke and Mari Costa

Specter Inspectors by Bowen McCurdy and Kaitlyn Musto

Mine-kun is Asexual by Isaki Uta

Beetle & The Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

Twelfth Grade Night by Molly Horton Booth, Stephanie Kate Strohm and Jamie Green

I Am Not Starfire by Mariko Tamaki and Yoshi Yoshitani

To Strip The Flesh by Oto Toda

These are a lot of graphic novels/manga I would add on and recommend. I don't really have the energy to go through and summarize and highlight each one, and I didn't always find the best cover file to show... But these are all really fantastic stories with queer folx. That said, I LOVE what the previous person shared! Good job!! And thank you for compiling that and going through the work of explaining them all!!!

[lizziethereader]

Weekly Bookish Question #335 (April 30th - May 6th)

Have you set any reading-related rules for yourself? What are they?

[bookcub]

hmm.. .. i dont think i do. . .

[3eggy5me]

For me, I work in graphic novel publishing, so I try to NOT read only graphic novels/comics. I keep a physical book log and I try to have one not-graphic novel on each page, so about one every seven or so books.

I also try to rotate between fiction and nonfiction and try to make a note to add an own voices book about POC, queerness and/or disability. It doesn't have a specific ratio, but if I read four romance novels in a row, I try to take a step back to find something else.

It just helps my brain feel not cluttered, to mix things up and learn and separate work and pleasure and stuff? Curious what other rules are, definitely!!

[3eggy5me]

Finished a great hat, just in time for the new year!

It's a subtle pattern that really encapsulates a lot... Colors are more bright irl

Pattern linked here for those interested~

[3eggy5me]

Sunflower hat by Ravelry user yellowcosmo.

Thought the hat was really fun to make - I didn't have the appropriate colors, but I wanted to support the cause anyway by highlighting this great pattern (which I mildly adjusted for fit).

It is not my place to speak about Ukraine, as someone mostly unaffected by the unjust attacks happening there, but I want to continue to hear the conversation and continue to pass it along to the appropriate parties. It is not my place to talk about a lot of politics, as someone still learning and someone who is privileged...

But thank you and stay safe and warm.

[3eggy5me]

Pattern for those interested.

[eldritchhedgehog]

"Here, have some thick batting," Grammy said. "I'm not gonna use it," Grammy said. "She's crazy!," I thought to myself. "This is the coziest batting ever! I am going to make the best quilt."

Boys this quilt is an inch thick. I cannot get it under my presser foot. Putting the binding on has so far taken me 40 minutes and I'm 1/8th of the way there. I have called Grammy and apologized. Still the quilt persists. I have been avoiding binding it for a year because I am afraid of it. It mocks me. This quilt is so warm I got sweaty last night and it was like 40 degrees out. This quilt is a monster. A behemoth. When I fold it up it's the height of a small child. There is a lost civilization of mice excavating in this quilt. I just shook it and Jimmy Hoffa's body fell out. Send help.

[thebibliosphere]

When you’re so prissy about being clean, mommy has to (loosely) tie your ears up with a scrunchy so you don’t get gravy in your ears.

[3eggy5me]

This dog is literally so cute, I could cry

And what a classic floppy ear dog problem 🥺

[bookcub]

the girls ive been is scratching the itch of a good heist story

[bookcub]

this book needs sooooo many trigger warnings

[bookcub]

such a good book but im definitely due for nightmares tonight

[3eggy5me]

It is SO good and it needs a TON of trigger warnings!!

Off the top of my head, I can think: pedophilia, violence, attempted sexual assault, physical assault, emotional abuse, fire... The list goes on.

There are plans to make a movie with Millie Bobby Brown as the lead~

[myrtebreit]

I am home alone it’s time to get wild (sitting on the couch and knitting)

[3eggy5me]

Don't forget the random video/episode you pull up to listen to as you knit 💕

[composerinprogress]

Hey now, you’re an all star

listen to what I orchestrated

SoundCloud

[architectofimagination]

THIS IS FUKING AMAZING WHY CANT I SPREAD THIS EVERYWHERE I WANNA SHOW IT TO EVERYONE. LITERAL GOOSEBUMPS

[eltrolodecadadia]

[zekthesans]

composer IN progress????

NO, YOU ARE READY FOR THE WORLD. IN FACT, THE WORLD IS NOT READY FOR YOU

[cookierun-fan]

Have fun