leitmotif
7745 points
leitmotif commented on EmmsBookshelf's review of No Friend To This House
Natalie Haynes continues to amaze me, No Friend to this House is written in the same style and tone as Stone Blind. Making it engaging, entertaining and emotional. Weaving in the experiences of a myriad of characters (human, animal and divine) added depth to the story and showed the complex interconnected nature of Greek Mythology. It also solidified my long held belief that Jason is the worst.
3leitmotif wrote a review...
Robertson shares practical ideas to encourage individuals to meaningfully engage with truth and reconciliation. An accessible read filled with personal anecdotes that centres on actions, whether they be 'small’ or ones that take more time. The mere fact that one does something and hopefully, start becoming part of your routine (e.g. supporting Indigenous businesses, writing your own land acknowledgement, learning about the lands/waters you are living, etc.). Anyone reading this can find at least one idea to take forward and build awareness to why this shared responsibility is crucial: "Reconciliation means that we shoulder the burden of change together, and do not leave the weight on the shoulders of Indigenous people. It’s not helping us to walk but walking with us. It is completely your place to say something if you know what’s been said is not right. Do not be complacent; be active and be informed.” (39)
0leitmotif finished a book
52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing
David Alexander Robertson
0
leitmotif commented on BeanBunny's review of Glorious Exploits
Reading this was GLORIOUS!
'Glorious Exploits' was such a heartwarming heart-wrenching story written with so much emotional depth that I needed 2 days to recover from its impact. I'm still a little broken about it. It made me laugh out loud, shed a tear, cheer for the characters, and feel deep sorrow for them. The writing style with the dark Irish humor merged with the ancient Peloponnesian War setting (with talk of Athens, Sparta, Babylon, Carthage, Egypt) was an absolute joy to read.
Lampo, Lampo, where do I begin? He's a really obnoxious narrator, who still somehow has so many redeemable traits that we tend to forget what an ass he truly is. And yet, it was so sweet to witness his deep friendship with Gelon, and then later Paches, and how much he truly cared without ever really admitting it to us, the readers. Where I initially thought Gelon was the MC, and Lampo was just there for POV purposes, Lampo comes into his own in the second half, and actually decides to use his agency to do something worth doing. I loved all the secondary characters as well, and the depth of their backstories and the emotional pull I felt whenever they appeared on the page (Lyra, Paches, Numa, Alcar, Alekto, Dares and Strabo, even bloody Biton!)
The pivotal scene with the play was so immersive, I felt like I was watching the performance with the characters (even though I haven't read Medea or Trojan Women). The paragraph where Lampo describes how, for a moment, the Syracusans and Athenians were united in the audience pulled at my heartstrings. The beauty of Ferdia Lennon's writing—he staged a play for the readers with actors and an audience but no actual play! And I was spellbound!
This novel just worked for me in ways I never thought possible. It ticked all the boxes, and so much more. Art brings humans together, and it's never been more compellingly expressed than in this gorgeous work. I feel privileged to have read this.
I don't remember how I found this book. I haven't heard any hype for it, and I only picked it up because the cover had me intrigued. Sadly, I have to wonder how many amazing books like this I have missed because the publishers' marketing budget didn't allow for better reach. And in the same breath, I'm even more grateful that this one somehow managed to reach me through the all internet clutter.
What a glorious world, huh?
1leitmotif commented on EmmsBookshelf's update
leitmotif commented on UltraMae's update
leitmotif commented on a post
I love that Roy acknowledges that her view of her mother now may betray the experience of her younger self.
1leitmotif commented on Chloehelling's update
Chloehelling completed their yearly reading goal of 30 books!
Chloehelling's 2025 Reading Challenge
13leitmotif commented on a post
Chapter three really opened my eyes to all the twists and turns in how American law handles free speech. 😲 It's such a tightrope walk, with a strong drive to guard everyone's right to speak their mind on one side, and on the other, a solid grasp that some words can do real damage and must be reined in. I was shocked to find out that lots of those scary examples people throw around when pushing for tougher rules, like straight-up threats or bad harassment at work, are already covered by the laws they have.
The chapter also highlighted the big split between public and private spots. I never quite grasped how much freedom private groups or places have to make their own calls on what's okay to say. It's not just the government calling the shots on speech; loads of times, it's businesses or communities setting their boundaries, which throws in even more layers to think about. 😮
Comparing that to the sneaky, silly, and downright stifling rules popping up in the UK and across Europe these days, it's like night and day. 🙃 Over here, laws seem to creep in and squash speech under the guise of protection, making everything feel so heavy and restricted.🙃🙃
It makes me appreciate the American way even more, though I do wonder if those “emergency” carve-outs for free speech, meant for quick action when harm's looming, can keep up with how fast stuff spreads online now. Those rules came from a time when things moved slower and stayed more local, and sometimes I doubt if they're quick enough for today's viral messes.
Still, the chapter has me thinking hard about ways to tweak those ideas for the digital world without tipping the scale away from that crucial mix of freedom and safety that keeps democracy buzzing. Food for thought, my friends. Food for thought... 📖
9leitmotif commented on superllaine's update
leitmotif commented on superllaine's update
leitmotif commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum
hey yalll I am looking for movie recs with book tropes in them (: what are your favorites?
today is a very slow Sunday and I’m looking to watch movies all day, the weather is cloudy and perfect for hot chocolate! so hit me with your suggestions please 😌
20leitmotif commented on a post
LFGGGGGG i'm living for this banter between Serena and Koen. literally giggling kicking my feet
1leitmotif commented on a post
leitmotif commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum
Does anyone else feel like a kid waiting for Christmas waiting for the next round of Seasonal Readalongs to come out or do I have a problem? 🙂
67leitmotif commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum
For those of you who buy physical books, what's your favorite "special" edition you own? Could be signed, sprayed edges, special binding/cover, whatever.
Mine is my signed copy of The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig with a sword design on the sprayed edges (B&N edition) 🤩 I read the book on my Kindle first and then loved it so much I wanted a special copy so I bought it on a resale site for an annoying amount of money. But she's BEAUTIFUL so I love her :) I even painted a bookmark to match the sprayed edges :)
25leitmotif commented on leitmotif's update
leitmotif made progress on...
52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing
David Alexander Robertson
1leitmotif made progress on...
52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing
David Alexander Robertson
1
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