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hermusings

Mood reader She/her

588 points

0% overlap
Classics Starter Pack Vol I
Quiet Novels
Mardi Gras + Carnival 2026
My Taste
Beach Read
Writers & Lovers
Behind You Is the Sea
The Story of a New Name (The Neapolitan Novels, #2)
Reading...
You Can't Live All on Your Own!, Volume 2 (You Can't Live All on Your Own!, #2)
56%
The Appeal (The Appeal, #1)
0%
The View Was Exhausting
69%

hermusings is interested in reading...

3d
How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States

How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States

Daniel Immerwahr

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1w
The View Was Exhausting

The View Was Exhausting

Mikaella Clements

69%
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hermusings made progress on...

2w
The View Was Exhausting

The View Was Exhausting

Mikaella Clements

64%
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Post from the The View Was Exhausting forum

2w
  • The View Was Exhausting
    Thoughts from 38%
    spoilers

    View spoiler

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    2w
    You Can't Live All on Your Own!, Volume 2 (You Can't Live All on Your Own!, #2)

    You Can't Live All on Your Own!, Volume 2 (You Can't Live All on Your Own!, #2)

    Mizoko Tsuno

    56%
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    hermusings commented on a post

    2w
  • Disappoint Me
    Elvedon
    Edited
    Thoughts from 5%

    I love how much real talk this novel has about being a trans woman, so specific that it's clear the author is trans herself. It feels natural and multi-layered, unlike some novels I've read by cis writers who include trans characters on purpose, turning the trans experience into a political token instead of a reflection of humanity, flawed and complex.

    I read an interview with Dinan that included a question about representing trans characters, touching on this very point:

    Some sections of the media have abhorrent views of trans people. With this in mind, how cautious are you about how you present your trans characters?

    I want to offer full and complex characterisations of trans people: I’m not in the business of trying to convince anyone that trans people are deserving of basic human rights. I can’t cater my work to people who don’t have a basic level of empathy for trans people. To write with the goal of converting transphobes feels like a fruitless exercise and too much of a burden. My work is not for them.

    A couple examples of this complex characterisation I've noticed so far:

    "Carla and I are friends, in the sense that we're both trans and therefore vaguely supportive of each other on social media."

    "To protect my soul, I refuse to scroll through profiles [on dating apps], waiting for men to like me first so I can wield the ax. The experience is otherwise too degrading. My profile already says that I'm trans."

    It's subtle, but after reading a handful of cis-authored stories with trans characters, I can tell Dinan has chosen authentic characterisation over politically-minded representation, and I really appreciate her honest writing!

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    2w
    The View Was Exhausting

    The View Was Exhausting

    Mikaella Clements

    20%
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    hermusings wrote a review...

    2w
  • The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts
    hermusings
    Feb 24, 2026
    4.0
    Enjoyment: 4.0Quality: 4.0Characters: 3.0Plot: 4.0
    🧙‍♀️
    😈
    ⚖️

    Miller’s plays have a marvelous way of keeping you engaged til the very end, even when you know what will occur, and the crucible is no exception.

    I love that he wrote this to bring attention to the trials occurring during the red scare and to read it in 2026 feels timely as well. The pandemonium behind distorted truths for the benefit of the few at the detriment of the marginalized & innocent.

    This book is clearly written by a white man in the 50s & John Proctor is prove of that. His character was actually the catalyst of the trials tormenting this town and the entire book he’s portrait as a flawed victim. This dated the book for me, specially act 4 as his wife apologizes to him?! 🥴

    Overall, great craic & a classic for a reason.

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    2w
    The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts

    The Crucible: A Play in Four Acts

    Arthur Miller

    60%
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    hermusings started reading...

    3w
    The View Was Exhausting

    The View Was Exhausting

    Mikaella Clements

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    4w
    To Woo and to Wed (The Regency Vows, #5)

    To Woo and to Wed (The Regency Vows, #5)

    Martha Waters

    37%
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    hermusings made progress on...

    4w
    To Woo and to Wed (The Regency Vows, #5)

    To Woo and to Wed (The Regency Vows, #5)

    Martha Waters

    27%
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