i’d been dealing with a massive reading slump— think years long, instead of months— all the way through uni. i live in the big apple, went to uni here as well, and i just always talked myself out of reading because there is so much to do. i got really involved in the broadway theatre scene (still am, 75 shows in 2025!) and began actually attending more live sports… and regretfully became addicted to my phone… and forgot the simple joy of a book.

seven months post-grad now, i’m happy to report that the same hobby which got me through some very lonely and difficult times of adolescence has made a return. it is difficult to be able to make sports games and shows with my terrible fuckin finance work hours and i am becoming increasingly phone-phobic the more heinously late teams pings i get. and so, reading has made a glorious return to save my dumbass from spiralling. i am back to being a voracious reader baby!

it is so nice to rip through a book and giggle and laugh, to know that, yeah, even now, i can absolutely destroy a 450 page book in five hours like i used to be able to as a kid. i’ve found such comfort in reading new pieces of literature with familiar themes, in pushing to read new authors and new works. reorganising my bookshelves, thrifting new books and writing!!! writing again!!! has been amazing. i love getting excited about the thing i’ve always loved again.

bookish communities (shoutout hunger games) saved me as a kid, and i know they will do the same as an adult. shoutout pagebound for giving me a way to track my reading and to engage with folks!!!

Change a single word in a book title to ruin it/make it silly. Let see what funny ones there are!!

Some great examples ive seen (not mine)

• Harry Potter and the Kidney Stone
• The Medicore Gatsby
• A game of scones

Its been a tough week at work, so I thought this would cheer me up (and maybe someone else who is having a tough go today or recently).

Okay so I just saw Bunny's post abou what everyone here does for work and it is so lovely to see how diverse this community is in terms of jobs. And a new question occurred to me: do you see your job represented in books often? Have you ever seen it? What did you think, was it done well, or did it annoy you? How could it be done better? I'm curious!

(This question brought to you by my grandparents who were doctors, and watched medical dramas with loud and angry commentary :D )

Inspired by my dad, who loves first/last lines of books and has memorized many, and csdaley, whose favorite book quote is a first line, what's a first line that has stuck with you over time? Maybe it hooked you in to the rest of the book, maybe it set the tone, maybe it's just incredibly quoteable! I've got a couple:

In the myriadic year of our Lord—the ten thousandth year of the King Undying, the kindly Prince of Death!— Gideon Nav packed her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and she escaped from the House of the Ninth. Gideon the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderly again. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier

Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore white on the day he was to kill a king. The Way of Kings, Brandon Sanderson

I saw someone asking for recs for a vacation and thought, “hey why don’t I do that?” so here I am! I’m going to New York for the first time and I know I want to visit NYPL, The Strand, and Book Club (if I’m nearby!) but what am I missing? Let me know!!!

i'm intrigued - does anyone else have a classic (or just super popular) book that they think is sort of underrated? like a book that is well-known and well-respected, but isn't getting its due for the right reasons? or a book with a reputation that makes people less likely to read it?

for me, i think the handmaid's tale gets the right amount of credit for worldbuilding/speculative work, but i've never seen much appreciation for atwood's narration itself, especially her depiction of re-living trauma. also, i was taught othello in school as important for its discussion of gender and race. all true, but i've seen lots of people go in thinking it's quite serious, and totally missing all of the jokes (which is half the point)

would love to hear new perspectives on old favourites!

Without doxing yourself plzzz

Some of you are reading so much with full time jobs😭 I gotta know what y’all do and how many hours you’re doing it. I know a few people are lucky enough to get to read on the job! That’s the dream.

“IN THE MYRIADIC YEAR OF OUR LORD—the ten thousandth year of the King Undying, the kindly Prince of Death!—Gideon Nav packed her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and she escaped from the House of the Ninth.”

immediately fuck yeah