Oct 5th is my birthday. And I would love to do a small challenge.

Current read! Turn to page 105 The first quote you see on that page and comment it below!

Anyone else feel oddly satisfied by the ending? Like ah yes, there is no saving grace. He is literally the middle class, upper-to-middle management everyman.

Don't get me wrong! I love Studio Ghibli with all my heart and the film is undoubtedly a masterpiece, but this was one of my favorite books growing up and I wish it had gotten a more faithful adaptation. Turning Howl into an unexplained birdman, shoehorning the anti-war themes in the back half of the movie, abandoning the subplots with Sophie's sisters etc... It all makes me sad that now that Miyazaki's version is out there, we won't ever get another take on the story that aims to bring more of the original book to life.

I've been seeing discourse online that listening to audio books doesn't count as reading I count audio books

What are you guys thoughts on that?

this book uses too many similes…. that and its occasional use of contemporary sayings (which i’m hoping are intended!!) are its only flaws

I've started reading in the language I'm learning and I understand it pretty well, but would like to be able to read a little faster by not needing to think about what every word is in English. 😅

When do you go from reading and mentally translating into your native language to reading and understanding IN the language?

Do you have any tips for intermediate learners starting to read novels in the language they're studying?

I've started to take the approach of a sci-fi novel that starts out with a bunch of conlang and you figure out the words you don't know as you go, but I'd be curious to hear how others go about it!!

I think for the most part people are pretty good at understanding overconsumption = bad. But when it comes to books and book related things, that mentality seems to go out the door. I’ve seen a lot of readers get super heated over having a vast collection of books, ereaders, accessories etc, and I just wonder-why? Booktok has seemingly turned reading and being a reader into an aesthetic, and I think a lot of people like the idea of it but more like the look or aesthetic of it (eg: book hauls).

I’ve done my best to cut down on purchasing books, I try to buy them second-hand, and I try to not buy anything when I have a ton to read…what do y’all think about this? *Not calling out anyone on this platform or any users or creators! *

Super annoyed at the way Sciona is being treated by the rest of the Highmages but also annoyed at the way she thinks things like “Thank goodness Tommy seemed a little sharper than the average Kwen” yes juxtaposition yes irony I know I know but ughhh 😒