We're all readers here so I thought we may enjoy this sentiment together.

I find it amazing, that all it takes are words put together, for us to enjoy worlds that exists in our own heads.

With movies, people would have to do sets, hire actors, train, do video editing and the like for something visual to happen. But in books, all it takes is for one person to feel so strongly about a story they have in their heads, to write it down and put it together on sheets of bound paper, to create worlds that can rival even the best of movies.

I mean, editing, publishing, and everything else aside, I just find it wonderful, so wonderful that with just mere words on pieces of paper - something so simple - can give us a myriad of worlds, thrills, and emotions to experience, all in our own little heads.

Reading is a hobby without bounds, and so is writing. So I want to say that to all the authors and aspiring authors out there, you are powerful, because you are the ones that begin that simple binding of words onto paper for the rest of us in the world to enjoy what you see in your mind. I think that is absolutely amazing. Thank you, for what you do.

(Pardon my philosophical musings on a random afternoon 😂)

What counts as second-screening: Having a video or a movie in the background as you read; reading something else on a different screen as you read (including spoiling what you're reading by looking something up about the plot); looking away from what you're reading periodically to scroll on social media, including PB; playing a game while reading.

I feel like this question is a little unfair for audiobook readers because you guys intentionally do all this stuff while listening to the audiobook... But if you are dividing your attention to the point where you have to rewind I think you're second-screening.

So have you been dividing your attention?

No judgment by the way. I'm literally doing it right now. I caught myself putting on some YT videos while getting through the story I'm reading. I'm still taking it in, I'm just kind of like... not immersed.

I just see people with high numbers and I wonder if you're reading all day while doing other stuff. Is that the secret?

Hi, I'm posting to ask if there are any books here that has the main focus on Dark Academia? There are a couple I read like A Dark and Drowning Tide and Ace of Spades where dark academia is in the background, sometimes barely noticeable, whereas other topics or genres are strong in the forefront like sapphic romantasy or YA Gossip Girl/Pretty Little Liars. These types of books with no a strong focus on dark academia are completely fine, I have nothing against them, the main reason I'm drawn to dark academia is because of the exploration into an elite university with the humanities studies and how it's twisted into something dark. The less focus on different genres, the better. Even The DaVinci Code is borderline to me, the thriller and detective vibes are stronger than dark academia vibes (and also it's fun to read how lowkey inaccurate the observations are 🫣).

It's why I've joined this quest to read more books like it. I'm thinking along the lines of:

• The Historian
• Babel
• Katabasis

The Secret History and Piranesi are good examples of what I'm looking for and I've placed a hold on The Secret History one. Are there any examples of that in this quest list? Thank you! 🥰

Katherine Arden does it again! 💛

The way she marries history and fantasy is simply divine! I love how her stories centre real historical events & figures, rather than just featuring a historic setting.

As with my experience reading The Warm Hands of Ghosts, there was a point when I was a bit unsure as to how I felt, but I ended up loving both! I have thus learnt to let her cook and simply trust the process! 😌

I personally find her historical fiction writing strength outweighs her fantasy, as in both books I felt immersed in the world, but didn't fully grasp the magical elements.

Winternight trilogy, I will meet you soon! (Would reading it during a summer heatwave feel a bit jarring? 😅 Or provide much needed relief?)