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Spring 2026 Readalong
Read at least 1 book in the Spring 2026 Readalong.
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Post from the The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture forum
I like that he quotes and references so many women, researchers, artists, patients, creatives… It shouldn’t be surprising but somehow it still is, for an author and a book of this nature to recognize the work and breakthroughs of women.
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The bone chalk animals remind me so much of the bone dog from Nettle & Bone…
I also keep thinking that there was some recent controversy around the author and that’s bugging me but I can’t remember what it was about.
I kind of like Alice, except for all the overthinking -but that’s starting to make sense. I don’t trust Peter. I really like to not be reading about teenage heroines again, which I was kind of expecting for some reason.
Mostly I’m enjoying the journey into the underworld, the coming together of different theories (religious, metaphysical, philosophical). It’s an interesting and different setting for a fantasy book.
Post from the Katabasis forum
The bone chalk animals remind me so much of the bone dog from Nettle & Bone…
I also keep thinking that there was some recent controversy around the author and that’s bugging me but I can’t remember what it was about.
I kind of like Alice, except for all the overthinking -but that’s starting to make sense. I don’t trust Peter. I really like to not be reading about teenage heroines again, which I was kind of expecting for some reason.
Mostly I’m enjoying the journey into the underworld, the coming together of different theories (religious, metaphysical, philosophical). It’s an interesting and different setting for a fantasy book.
Xalaila started reading...

Katabasis
R.F. Kuang
Xalaila wrote a review...
Phoebe checks into a hotel and, pretty much against her will, becomes involved in the wedding taking place there. This is an extremely limiting summary, but I fear that saying anything else will spoil the story.
Life, death, love, friendship, family… are all important parts of the book, making the read subtly think about what it means to really be alive, what we devote our time to, the masks we wear, the quiet courage to fully live.
I enjoyed the writing style, the low stakes that nevertheless drove quite poignant pints home, making me think about my own life. The characters are well written, likable even at their worst, and I particularly enjoyed the perspective of a 40 year old childfree woman -doesn’t happen very often that I can identify with a character these days, which was pretty nice.
Now I’m kind of hoping for a sequel in the mansion she will be caretaking. And I also want to know what happens with Lila.
Xalaila finished a book

The Wedding People
Alison Espach
Xalaila started reading...

The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture
Gabor Maté
Post from the The Wedding People forum
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