darlingmud
I love fantasy, litfic, classics, and creative nonfiction best ☺️
959 points
darlingmud made progress on...
A Place Both Wonderful and Strange: The Extraordinary Untold History of Twin Peaks
Scott Meslow
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The Last of Its Kind: The Search for the Great Auk and the Discovery of Extinction
Gísli Pálsson
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Penguin Highway
Tomihiko Morimi
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A Place Both Wonderful and Strange: The Extraordinary Untold History of Twin Peaks
Scott Meslow
0Post from the A Place Both Wonderful and Strange: The Extraordinary Untold History of Twin Peaks forum
darlingmud commented on darlingmud's review of The Favorites
Update: taking off another star from my overall bc the cover was made by AI. So disappointing. Pay real artists. So glad I didn’t end up buying this one.
This was a pretty easy read, but I don’t think I’ll remember this one for very long. It’s on the superficial side and pretty uneven in its pacing. As it bumps along, there are just as many boring parts as fun parts. The characters are pretty simple and it reads like a reality TV show in novel form. I don’t mind that as a format, but there’s just something overall lacking here.
The Wuthering Heights retelling starts to disintegrate at about the halfway point so this reads more like an AU fanfic version of WH than an actual reworking that’s true to the themes and tragedy of the original. This is Wuthering Heights cast in SoCal with all the unserious adjustments to the plot you’d expect. It doesn’t really work. Aside from the boost this gets marketing as a retelling when the movie is about to come out, this probably should have just been a novel about ice dancing without the WH link shoehorned in. At the end of the day, Wuthering Heights with a HEA just isn’t Wuthering Heights.
People keep comparing this to I, Tonya and like sure? I guess? But I, Tonya has teeth and extraordinary characterization and this novel just loves its characters too much to let them experience realistic consequences. It’s pretty meh overall, but it’s fun in a forgettable popcorn movie kind of way.
2darlingmud made progress on...
A Place Both Wonderful and Strange: The Extraordinary Untold History of Twin Peaks
Scott Meslow
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A Place Both Wonderful and Strange: The Extraordinary Untold History of Twin Peaks
Scott Meslow
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darlingmud commented on a post from the Founder Announcements forum
Our next Special Event will celebrate Japanese literature, culture and its influence on the world. Like the sakura (cherry blossom) trees Japan gifts other nations to promote cross-cultural exchange, we hope reading these books together will connect the global Pagebound community. We've intentionally selected a broad range of genres and authors to spotlight, so everyone can find a book they're interested in. This event will run from March 15 to April 15.
Check out the Special Events page (in the More tab on the app, or click the pink banner on the Discuss page on web).
The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop by Takuya Asakura: a translated Japanese magical realism novel about a mysterious bookshop that appears during cherry blossom season (vibes: cozy, poignant)
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki: a metafictional novel about belonging & home, identity & immigration. Ozeki is the first practicing Zen Buddhist priest to be shortlisted for the Booker Prize (vibes: literary, meditative) - check triggers
The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji: a 1987 translated Japanese murder mystery novel (vibes: a classic "whodunit")
Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki: a memoir from Japan's most celebrated geisha in Kyoto's Gion district during the 1960s & 70s (the UK title is Geisha of Gion). Iwasaki was one of the geisha's interviewed by Arthur Golden for his book Memoirs of a Geisha that fictionalized her story. It included many inaccuracies, and here, Iwasaki sets the record straight.
What's a Special Event? Each quarter, we run a short 1 month readalong showcasing diverse voices in literature. Read one of the selections and comment or post in the forum during the Readalong to earn a special badge. Unlike Seasonal Readalongs, you do not earn a special badge for reading all the selections.
Excited to see the discussions for this event!
Happy Reading, Jennifer & Lucy
225darlingmud started reading...
A Place Both Wonderful and Strange: The Extraordinary Untold History of Twin Peaks
Scott Meslow
0darlingmud made progress on...
Houseplants for All: How to Fill Any Home with Happy Plants
Danae Horst
0darlingmud made progress on...
The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World
Christine Rosen
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Post from the Wuthering Heights forum
darlingmud commented on a post
Honestly, the preface is fascinating. Charlotte is simultaneously trying to excuse and exult the perceived faults in Wuthering Heights. She sounds both apologetic for and proud of her sister, and I really appreciated the context she provides. Here's my favorite line, because girl, same:
"My sister's disposition was not naturally gregarious; circumstances favoured and fostered her tendency to seclusion; except to go to church or take a walk on the hills, she rarely crossed the threshold of home. Though her feeling for the people round was benevolent, intercourse with them she never sought... And yet, she knew them."
12Post from the Wuthering Heights forum
Honestly people don’t talk enough about how funny Lockwood is. He’s pure Mr. Collins, especially the part where he says it’s not conceited for him to fear that Cathy 2 will fall in love with him because he knows how attractive he is.
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