technically speaking, i’ve only read 36 actual books and the rest are just manga volumes, does that count?

in my head, mangas aren’t technically books. i mean they are art, that’s not where im getting at, it’s just not the same type of art as actual novels. the same way you see movies and tv shows separate from broadways and novels. they’re all arts, just different forms.

so does that make adding mangas in my reading goal as cheating? i did it so i can track what’s the last volume i read and where i need to pick it back up from. but i gotta admit, it does make me feel accomplished that i read 100+ books even though they’re just manga volumes. i can get through 3-4 volumes in a day easily, on top of my regular reading.

it's much nicer but imma be honest, audiobooks are so hard for me b/c while it's nice to have someone read to me...I can't do anything else while listening. I have to actually pay attention or I don't retain anything 🫠

Hey everyone! I’m curious, where do you all usually get your audiobooks from? I actually signed up for Audible years ago but never really figured out how to use it, so I’ve never listened to one. Lately, I’ve been wanting to give audiobooks another try. Do yall have any recommendations for good platforms or sites to get them, and maybe a few audiobook titles you’d suggest starting with? Thanks so much!

Okay so, I need book recs for books that left you HOLLOW for at least a week. I'm talking stuff like If We Were Villains or They Both Die At The End, anything that ripped your heart out - don't ask me why. I just need to feel the pain sometimes!!!

Bumpkin, Lumpkin and Rumpkin 😭 I laughed so hard, what are those names

Apparently, I sprained my rib cartilage last night so now I’m on bed rest for the weekend guess I’ll get a lot of reading done at least. Any recs for a nice distracting read?

At the moment, I'm using Storygraph just for the stats, but I won't lie, having to remember to keep up with multiple bookish platforms is annoying as hell. So, in 2026, I'm really hoping to tackle Google Sheets and be able to form a reading tracker over there... I just have no clue where to start. So, if anyone has any Google Sheets info or advice, I would really appreciate it! Or, if you use a different platform to track your stats, I'd be interested to hear that too, as an alternative if I end up disliking Sheets.

Hello guys. I feel like I need to have this discussion because a lot of people don't know what cultural appropriation is. Adopting something after mocking the culture the thing comes from or mocking the originators for doing it or renaming it to suit your needs without crediting its origins is cultural appropriation! If you, however, as non poc wear a bindi— call it a bindi— and appreciate what it represents; it's not cultural appropriation! I've seen a lot of people from various cultures absolutely love when white people try something from their culture. PROVIDED you give the credit where it belongs! In real life, you can minimise cultural appropriation by buying things from the original creators 🫶

That being said, I would like to put some of this in for budding authors here. If you decide to use any of these in your books, please do some research for its origins! I can only speak of south asian origin of course. So guys, please start a thread of what's been culturally appropriated from your culture and how would you like people to address that?

So here you go!

Checks - Originated from Madras fishermen! During colonisation, these were exported and made a exclusive to mobility of the British! Because the quality was so good!

Bandana - originated as Bandhani, which mean to to Tie! worn by people in the northern parts of India. Especially Kashmir and you might see it on Romani people as well!

Boho Jewellery - THESE ARE JHUMKAS AND HAARS. I kid you not, I used to die searching for JHUMKAS in london until someone told me to type boho jewellery. Oxidised jewellery and big ass jewelleriew have been worn india for centuries. Visit any temple and you'll see it. So Jhumkas are south asian in origin. Hope that helps!

Kohlapuri Chappals- the sandals with the band around your big toes originated from Kohlapur and is the lifeblood of Dalits and was worn ORIGINALLY by Dalits.

Maang Tikas- these are the things that you see in coachella where you wear jewellery in the middle part of your hair. Love to see it, but please. give credit to the people it originated from!

Bindi - it's been boiled down to a fashion accessory but Bindis often symbolised the third eye and Shakti or the Goddess Durga and her various forms. Women in India wear it not just because it looks fashionable but it's been culturally passed down to us from our foremothers

"Scandinavian Scarf* - This one pisses me the hell off. It's a DUPATTA. Y'al look hella pretty with it but it's a dupatta. It's a long cloth draped over your neck and shoulder. It's different from a scarf because you don't use the same material, print and stitching for scarf and you don't drape it like a scarf.

Okay that's it for today! Again, I love seeing people of different cultures wear these things. But again, buy from the original creators, and use appropriate words and enjoy looking slay as hell! Please share your cultural thing appropriated below and what people should call them and how they should acknowledge them instead.