Eggplant.place

266d

Bookish Discoveries I Made in 2025: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-bookish-discoveries-i-made-in-2025/

#Books #ReadingCommunity #Bookstodon #ReadersOfMastodon

@bookstodon

Drawning of four hardback books stacked on top of each other neatly. There is a spigot attached to the top novel, and little lightbulbs glowing of light are gently falling out of it like large drops of water.

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184d

A rant about the second sentence of Prophet Song

I just finished Prophet Song and loved it but I want to rant about the second sentence. Here are the first three:

The night has come and she has not heard the knocking, standing at the window looking out onto the garden. How the dark gathers without sound the cherry trees. It gathers the last of the leaves and the leaves do not resist the dark but accept the dark in whisper.

The first sentence is great. Introduces the setting and the tone and tells the reader, “I’m about to play with standard grammar.”

The third sentence is, like, one of thesis statements for the book. Lovely imagery. I wouldn’t have written it that way but I’m not a poet and I’m sure there’s some meter I’m missing.

But the second sentence is clunky. It reads like he forgot a word. He didn’t. If you read it as “How the dark gathers, without sound, the cherry trees.” then it’s fine. It links to the next sentence. But I read it as “How the dark gathers without sound <adverb omitted > the cherry trees.”

I ran an informal servey at a board game night and no thought this was a sentence. They did not understand.

So here’s where my rant begins: he knew I’d do that. He demonstrates profound ability to control how you read. And he absolutely can write grammatically illegal sentences that are super readable and compelling. He’s good at this shit.

He goes back to the cherry trees over and over again in the book and it’s comforting to check back in on the tree metaphor. It’s a wonderful, comforting metaphor for suffering. You get to high five it a bunch of times during the book. It’s important you remember the trees.

And I sure did! Because of that clunky second sentence I showed my friends. My wife said, “only a white guy would dare write like this.” And, I dunno about only but his choices do scream, “I’m a pretentious Irish poet and this is Literary Literature.”

He knows people are going to say, “this dude wishes he was Joyce” and “he sure ain’t Cormac McCarthy.” Again, he’s good at this shit. I think he wanted to do a Literary Literature about refugees.

Back to cherry trees. I think he chose to make that sentence flow so badly that it stuck in your craw so you’d remember the stupid trees. Talk about them. I think this is a thing Literary types like to do. To put ideas in your head using these fun meta tricks.

And it worked! I’m talking about the damn trees. And if you read the book and are reading this you are being reminded of the trees and the peotic thesis. I think this is intentional. You don’t risk the second sentence of your book being clunky unless you know what’ll happen.

But was it worth it? I almost put the book down. I’ve never read this dude before. I almost gave it back to the library on page three when I realized he wasn’t doing paragraphs. I’m ok without quotation marks. Didn’t bother me.

I read an interview where he said he felt like Europeas just weren’t getting the refugee crisis. I’ve seen people criticize him to telling this story in Ireland or telling a fictional story when so many real life stories happened in the 30s. And much more recently in Eastern Europe. But I don’t buy that criticism. He’s correct that Europeans don’t get it. Well, I know Americans don’t because I’m here and ICE and shit. But I’ve seen some y’all’s media and it sure looks like you are in the same boat as us.

Whatever. He may as well give it a shot. If tarting it up with metaphor and Literary Literature gets the message out then great.

But if you want to get the message out then why risk the clunky second sentence? Is it not clunky to Literary Literature types?! If it isn’t clunky then I’d have expected him spend another sentence or two of the trees. Can’t high five a metaphor you forgot.

So I think this is intentionally clunky. And it does help me remember the tree metaphor. But maybe it does more? I certainly showed it to a bunch of folks. But the lack of paragraph breaks dominate the conversation and he had to know it would. He’s good at this shit.

Ideas? I’m obviously overreacting. But this is an important choice! One that I don’t understand. I don’t understand lots of stuff and it doesn’t usually bother me. Why does this sentence bother me?

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266d

Trip. By Amie Barrodale.

You are the mother of an autistic teenager, and when you accidentally die at a conference for afterlife studies, you find you have an unexpected chance to maybe fix some things you think you did wrong, though your impact on the living is slight, brief and unwieldy.

4 of 5 library cats 🐈 🐈 🐈 🐈

@bookstodon #books #reading #bookstodon #death #autism #parenting #teenagers

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74d

In the past few days, I found myself rereading Stone of Farewell by Tad Williams. I greatly admire his writing, even though his books take me quite a while to finish. I'm not sure if it's the density of the text or the endless number of other readings I need to get through as a teacher. Either way, it's always a pleasure to return to the world of Osten Ard.

#books #reading #bookstodon #fantasy #tadwilliams #stoneoffarewell @bookstodon

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1y

7 Out-of-This-World Facts About Ray Bradbury’s ‘The Martian Chronicles’

The fix-up novel, which turns 75 this year, would become one of Bradbury’s most famous books—and inspire future scientists.

By Lorna Wallace

https://www.mentalfloss.com/ray-bradbury-martian-chronicles-book-facts

#books #literature

Publicity photo of Ray Bradbury from the television progam Alfred Hitchcock Presents in 1959.

It shows him as a middle-aged man with a youthful yet intellectual demeanor. Bradbury, known for his iconic works such as Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles, typically had neatly combed hair and wore thick, dark-framed glasses, which contributed to his scholarly appearance.

In this black-and-white image, he is dressed in a suit, appropriate for the formal nature of television appearances in the late 1950s.

His expression is serious yet approachable, reflecting his deep imagination and storytelling prowess.

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262d

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. This is a very well written book but geez is it bleak. Honestly I think it will age well as a record of modern war but right now it’s not exactly what I want for my recreational #reading. If you have or love children prepare to have your heart ripped out #BookerPrize #books @bookstodon

Black, white and red cover of Prophet Song by Paul Lynch.

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173d

The Fairytale Language of the Brothers Grimm

By Chi Luu

How the Brothers Grimm went hunting for fairytales, accidentally changed the course of historical linguistics, and kickstarted a new field of scholarship in folklore

https://daily.jstor.org/the-fairytale-language-of-the-brothers-grimm/?utm_source=mcae&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=jstordaily_04302026

Brothers Grimm at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Brothers+Grimm

#Books #Literature #Philology #Folklore

IN: Snowdrop & Other Tales

Author: Jacob Grimm

Wilhelm Grimm

Illustrator: Arthur Rackham

Arthur Rackham illustration (c. 1909). A cloaked girl clings to an icy, crystalline cliff edge above a swirling, richly patterned sea under a starlit night sky. Signature visible lower left.

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/37381/pg37381-images.html

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1y

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne

twenty-thousand-leagues-under-the-sea.html

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1y

#OTD in 1776.

Scottish political economist Adam Smith's book The Wealth of Nations, the first modern work in economics, was published.

It has become a fundamental work in classical economics, and has been described as "the first formulation of a comprehensive system of political economy".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wealth_of_Nations

Wealth of Nations at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3300

#books #literature #economy

The full title reads:

"An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations",
by Adam Smith, LL.D. and F.R.S.,
Formerly Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Glasgow.

The title is arranged in a centered layout, using a combination of capital and small capital letters, reflecting the typographic conventions of the time. Below the author’s name and credentials, the volume number (as the work was published in two volumes) is indicated.

At the bottom of the page is the publication information, which reads:

"London: Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell in the Strand. MDCCLXXVI."

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259d

An Enduring Source of Inspiration: In Search of Proust’s Legacy in Ireland

Max McGuinness Explores the French Writer’s Influence on Generations of Irish Literature

https://lithub.com/an-enduring-source-of-inspiration-in-search-of-prousts-legacy-in-ireland/

Marcel Proust at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/987

#books #literature

First galley proof of A la recherche du temps perdu: Du côté de chez Swann with handwritten revision notes by Marcel Proust (1871 - 1922). Auctioned by Christie's in July 2000 for £663,750 — a world record for a French literary manuscript.

This document shows:
Printer's proofs that Proust received for correction before final publication
Handwritten additions, deletions, and annotations throughout
Typeset text in columns with Proust's notes in margins and between lines
Shows Proust's creative process in action
The paper shows its age and the intensity of Proust's work

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%80_la_recherche_du_temps_perdu#/media/Fichier:MS_A_la_recherche_du_temps_perdu.jpg

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266d

Forgotten, priceless medieval book found in school library

The hermit and mystic Richard Rolles was basically a bestselling author in the Middle Ages.

by Andrew Paul

https://www.popsci.com/science/medieval-book-found-school-library/

Richard Rolle at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25856

#books #science #archeology

Cover image of the book English prose treatises of Richard Rolle de Hampole :(who died A. D. 1349).

https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb10748408?page=1

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1y

#OTD in 1896.

While Oscar Wilde is in prison, his play Salome (written in 1891) is premièred in its original French by Lugné-Poe's Théâtre de l'Œuvre company in Paris, perhaps at the Comédie-Parisienne. Because the play depicted biblical characters it was banned in Britain and was not performed publicly there until 1931.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salome_(play)

Salomé at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1339

#books #literature #theatre

Illustration by Aubrey Beardsley for the first English edition of the play (1894).

The image depicts Salomé holding the severed head of John the Baptist (also known as Jokanaan) on a platter.

She gazes at it with a mixture of fascination and satisfaction, while dark liquid (presumably blood) drips from the head onto the pedestal below.

Her elaborate gown, accessories, and stylized hair reflect the Art Nouveau aesthetic, infused with Beardsley’s signature decadence and eroticism.

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1y

In February 1919.

Richmal Crompton's anarchic English schoolboy William Brown is introduced in the first published Just William story, "Rice-Mould", in Home magazine. The books were published over a period of almost fifty years, between 1922 and 1970.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_William

Just William at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34414

#books #literature

Just William original cover.

The original cover of Just William by Richmal Crompton features a bright red background with bold yellow text at the top that reads "JUST WILLIAM". Below, the author's name, "RICHMAL CROMPTON", appears in large white letters. A subtitle in yellow text at the bottom highlights that this is "The first EVER William book!".

At the center of the cover is an illustration of a cheerful young boy, William Brown, with a mischievous smile. He is wearing a green jacket, a white shirt, a red and yellow striped tie, and a blue-and-white cap that is slightly askew.

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1y

French mathematician and philosopher René Descartes died #OTD in 1650.

He is known for his influential arguments for substance dualism, where mind and body are considered to have distinct essences, one being characterized by thought, the other by spatial extension. He has been dubbed the "Father of Modern Philosophy" and the "Father of Modern Mathematics."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Descartes

Books by René Descartes at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/44

#books #literature #philosophy #mathematics

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1y

Jane Austen was a satirist – why isn’t she treated like one?

By Adam J Smith

Although many women writers were critiquing society in the 18th century, hardly any of them were considered satirists.

https://theconversation.com/jane-austen-was-a-satirist-why-isnt-she-treated-like-one-262274?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20August%204%202025%20-%203474435381&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20August%204%202025%20-%203474435381+CID_11a7064190437d6047887b31fe5798d3&utm_source=campaign_monitor_uk&utm_term=Jane%20Austen%20was%20a%20satirist%20%20why%20isnt%20she%20treated%20like%20one

Jane Austen at PG
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/68

#books #literature

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261d

📚 Hollow by: Celina Myers

Mia Adair isn't even twenty-five yet, but she's starting to wonder if her peak has already passed. She’s spent years working at her local bookstore, a job that was supposed to be temporary. As a kid, she experienced a strange sort of fame within the paranormal community thanks to her inclusion in a book that rev...

https://bookblabla.com/book/hollow

@bookstodon

#books #reading #libraries #fiction #horror #generalfiction #romance #paranormal

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259d

Life, Work & Adoration

Becoming George: The Invention of George Sand

review by Lucasta Miller

https://literaryreview.co.uk/life-work-adoration

George Sand at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/851

#books #literature

Portrait of George Sand (cropped)
Part of: Portrait of Frédéric Chopin and George Sand
By Eugène Delacroix

George Sand depicted:

In masculine attire (white collar visible)
With dark hair and intense gaze
Holding what appears to be a small bird or flower
Against a rich, dark background with reddish-brown tones
Delacroix's characteristic loose, colorful brushwork
Contemplative, serious expression

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Sand#/media/Fichier:Eug%C3%A8ne_Ferdinand_Victor_Delacroix_041.jpg

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260d

📚 The Universe Box by: Michael Swanwick

Discover the vast worlds and pocket universes of Michael Swanwick (Stations of the Tide), the only author to win science fiction's most prestigious award five times in six years.

In his dazzling new collection, the master of speculative short stories returns with tales in which magic and science improbably c...

https://bookblabla.com/book/the-universe-box

@bookstodon

#books #reading #libraries #fiction #sciencefiction #general

Discover the vast worlds and pocket universes of Michael Swanwick (Stations of the Tide), the only author to win science fiction's most prestigious award five times in six years.

In his dazzling new collection, the master of speculative short stories returns with tales in which magic and science improbably coexist with myth and legend. With two stories original to this collection, Swanwick aptly demonstrates with poignant humor why he is widely respected as a master of imaginative storytelling.

In engaging stories, Mischling the thief races through time to defeat three trolls before the sun rises for the first time and turns the inhabitants of her city into stone. A scientist is on the run from assassins, because her research in merging human intelligence with sentient AI is too dangerous. An aging veteran obtains a military weapon from his past: a VR robotic leopard in which he rediscovers the consequences of the hunt. In the biggest heist in the history of the universe, a loser Trickster (and the girlfriend who is better than he deserves), sets out to violate every trope and expectation of fiction possible.

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169d

“Our heart is a treasury; if you pour out all its wealth at once, you are bankrupt.”

Honore de #Balzac

#FatherGoriot #books #reading #bookstodon @bookstodon #booksky #bookstagram #book #literature #writers #author #quotes #quote #readingcommunity

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261d

📚 Stolen in Death by: J. D. Robb

A blow to the head with a block of amethyst has left multibillionaire Nathan Barrister dead while nearby, a vault, its door ajar, sits filled with priceless paintings, jewelry, and other treasures. Lieutenant Eve Dallas’s husband, Roarke who misspent his youth in Ireland as a scrappy ...

https://bookblabla.com/book/stolen-in-death

@bookstodon

#books #reading #libraries #fiction #mysterydetective #thrillers #crimefiction #womensleuths

A blow to the head with a block of amethyst has left multibillionaire Nathan Barrister dead while nearby, a vault, its door ajar, sits filled with priceless paintings, jewelry, and other treasures. Lieutenant Eve Dallas’s husband, Roarke who misspent his youth in Ireland as a scrappy thief—recognizes at least two stolen pieces among the hoard. The crime scene suggests a burglar caught in the act. But only one item seems to be missing.

Then it’s revealed that the vault had actually belonged to the victim’s late father—and no one in the household knew it was there until a recent remodeling project exposed it. To protect the family name and business, they explain to Eve, they’d been looking for a way to return the ill-gotten gains anonymously and avoid the police. But now the police are all over their elegant house, and have a bigger, bloodier mystery to solve.

By all accounts, Nathan Barrister was a good man, a generous employer, a devoted husband and father. As for his father—he clearly had secrets. Now it’s up to Eve and her team to find out if those secrets got Nathan killed—and if it was a crime of passion or revenge.

A violent death and a vault of stolen treasures has Eve Dallas struggling to solve crimes old and new in the next thriller in the #1 New York Times-bestselling series.

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1y

British actress Lena Ashwell died #OTD in 1957.

She is known as the first to organise large-scale entertainment for troops at the front, which she did during World War I. After the war she created the Lena Ashwell Players.

Ashwell herself travelled to the front and became involved in fundraising and logistics of the concerts, as she believed in 'uplifting & therapeutic' power of music.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lena_Ashwell

A preface written by Lena Ashwell at PG
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18530

#books #literature

Rotary postcard featuring a photograph of actress Lena Ashwell.

Lena Ashwell is captured in a half-length pose, looking directly at the camera with a composed and serene expression.

She is wearing a delicate gown adorned with floral embellishments and a long beaded necklace.

Her hair is styled in soft waves, framing her face gracefully.

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265d

Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time: https://lydiaschoch.com/wednesday-weekly-blogging-challenge-books-i-wish-i-could-read-again-for-the-first-time/

#Books #Bookstodon #Nonfiction #ScienceFiction #WednesdayWeeklyBloggingChallenge

@bookstodon

Book cover for A Short History of the World According to Sheep by Sally Coulthard. Image on cover is a photo of a shepherd herding his sheep while they stand on a mountain. There are much larger, snowier mountains in the background.

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187d

So here's #Spring with exclusive #ShortStories from Diana Evans, Takiguchi Yūshō, translated by Jesse Kirkwood, Bruna Martini, Holly Edwards and Joel Cox, plus Lucy Caldwell on the long and short of #ShortFiction

Check them all out at https://fictionable.world

#books #reading #writing #fiction #comics #ShortStories #translation #blog #podcast #bookstodon

The fantastic contributors to Fictionable Spring 2026. From top left to bottom right: Bruna Martini, Diana Evans, Holly Edwards, Joel Cox, Takiguchi Yūshō, Jesse Kirkwood and Lucy Caldwell

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144d

From Authors Against Book Bans:

"H.R. 8705 is the latest legislation in the GOP’s crusade to try to erase entire communities from the story of the United States, and it will have a suppressive and damaging effect on our schools and libraries." [1/3]

#books #bookstodon @bookstodon