Today I will un-hauling all the books I own by Christina Dalcher including Femlandia which is a book I absolutely loved and have raved about but finding out the author is a raging Transphobe who almost puts JK to shame is a deal breaker for me.
I won't support these vile people in way and don't want their books in my house.
What I can't figure out is why some authors speak out in obviously offensive ways like this in the first place. Why court controversy? It's not just horrid, but also harms their careers. Maybe hatred is something people just can't hide?
Attacking an already vulnerable group, who are just trying to exist, is absolutely unforgiveable.
@negative12dollarbill@bookstodon oh my goodness, this does sound like an emotional gut-punch. Reminds me a little of Heaven, by Mieko Kawakami, which was a terrifying glimpse of bullying in Japanese schools.
@bookstodon and other avid readers, either I'm terrible at searching, or what I am looking for doesn't exist (in the U.S.)
I am interested in a print-only (no digital) adult graphic novel subscription service, not comics, and not the superhero stuff. Do I need to search by bookstores? Cratejoy is for the U.K. only, and I thought Panels would be perfect: quarterly, indie pubs, but I can only find their digital app. I would like physical copies, in a monthly or quarterly box subscription.
@bookstodon on this #WorldRefugeeDay I'd like to both list and solicit recommendations for books about refugees. With the deepening Climate Crisis, each of us could find ourselves in such a position at any time.
My rec's:
The Beekeeper of Aleppo, Christy Lefteri
Illegal, Eoin Colfer
Welcome To The New World, Jake Halpern, Michael Sloan
I need to reorganize my fiction bookshelves. What system has worked best for you? I'm leaning towards going by author, though that leaves the question of how to treat anthologies. Maybe anthologies could be first, or shelved by the editor's name. Alphabetical by title (preceded by numbers) might work just as well as by author.
I had been doing them by height size, except for the graphic novels, which tend not to match any standard size.
These particular bookshelves are all fiction (except for graphic nonfiction) so organizing by subject seems unwieldy.
I'm thinking anthologies, then number titles, then alphabetical by author. I think I have too many graphic novels for even two shelves, so they may need to go by author.
@BackFromTheDud@Likewise@bookstodon oh, I like that idea! Alphabetical by author with each author's work from the oldest to newest by date. Very good idea, especially with Stephen King or Stephen Graham Jones.
@todwest@bookstodon yes indeed. All of the other bookcases in the house are nonfiction, by subject. I have thought about doing the dewy decimal system: 200s in the den, 300s through 600s in the office, 800s in the living room, and 900s in the dining room.
Well, except that I have all the 741.5 books (graphic novels) shelved with fiction. 😁
I really tried to separate biography, politics, academic books, and history books, but some books are equally about biography, history, and politics.
@FiveSeventeen@bookstodon sometimes, it's more time than it's worth. I've currently got a two-rows on the same shelf thing creeping up, and that will send any system out of whack.
@BackFromTheDud@Likewise@bookstodon totally can see that! For prolific authors, it really helps. If I didn't have multiple books by the same authors, it would make sense to go by title or genre.
@akamran@bookstodon now that you mention it, my spice rack is like yours. I don't need to put Chinese 5 spice next to Cinnamon. That's a really great point. I think the living room/dining room is in order of purchase. I did create one shelf which is sort of "my" nonfiction, though we shall see. Someone who shall remain nameless keeps using up valuable shelf space for decorative display items!
@MissConstrue@BackFromTheDud@Likewise@bookstodon I've never been fond of the color organization shelf format, unless you wanna make it a lot harder: organize by each hue's opposite on the color wheel! 😃
@Brian_Mahoney@bookstodon We would get along well. We have books in every room. The office has floor to ceiling shelves with pretty good organization, but it all got away from me after that!
It used to be pretty easy to organize by subject or genre, but now it's complicated: children's paranormal, dystopian police procedural, LBGTQIA+ historical fantasy, etc.
They currently have a $5.99 sale on fiction, and the sale titles are surprisingly popular.
On a related note, if you need a specific book, and want to do a price comparison across various sellers and conditions, I have found https://www.bookfinder.com to be very helpful.
Technology based thriller which worked for this reader (they often don't). Surveillance contest between tech bro and a book reader that goes down the wire with heaps at stake for both parties.
@kcfromaustcrime@bookstodon I like that not only is it a thriller, but also it is an examination of how much intrusion we are willing to allow. I live in the fifth highest surveilled city in the world, so that had resonance for me.
Book Challenge: Choose 20 books that greatly influenced you. One book per day, for 20 days. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. #20Books Book One: @bookstodon
@bookstodon Maybe everyone already knows this, but in case you don't: there is a great way to search for library e-books you might like.
If you have Libby, do a filtered search for whatever you like in general. While perusing the results, tap on any book you have already read and enjoyed. Scroll down past the description, and it will give you suggestions of other books you might like. This really helped me.
This only works in filtered search, not direct search.
@killick@bookstodon omg, yes! That happens to me all the time. It is often unclear that a book is part of a series until you start reading it. Some can be considered standalones, but most aren't.
@templetongate@bookstodon that's fantastic that you have all the book rec's you can handle. I am always worried that I'm missing out on some great book somewhere. 😁
I'm currently reading Osamu Tezuka, considered to be the "Father of Manga." He was the creator of Astro Boy, and was thought of as the Japanese equivalent of Walt Disney, who greatly influenced his style.
For whatever reason, I don't recall anyone having had recommended him to me, so I consider it great fortune to have stumbled upon him. I now want to read all of his stuff! What sets him apart for me is his great moral compass.
@Bigtallguy@bookstodon I have not read the work you referenced, but I tell you what, I'm totally intrigued to read and compare. I just finished part I of Tezuka's Message to Adolf, and it is dark and violent, but equally emotional and meaningful. It's also super long, but it does not drag.
@bookstodon I have another great graphic memoir to recommend: Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story, by Sarah Myer.
Their message about belonging to one's true self as a radical act of courage and defiance, is powerful and palpable. Myer does not hold back in recounting the all-out assault that is bullying, and I'm glad they didn't leave out the absolute complicity of adults. The tone is one of hurt, but also of hope. Myer finds (relatively) safe haven and freedom of expression among the creatives. The arts can save people.
Since we are coming up on June, it seems like a good time to check in with everyone here on @bookstodon regarding favorite reads of 2024 so far. Whatcha got?
My top five reads of 2024 so far:
The Criminal series of graphic novels by Ed Brubaker (ten primary works)
@olliethewobbly@bookstodon What a great list! I wish all horror fans the joy of discovering Bazterrica. I've read Nineteen Claws and a Blackbird, and I need to get around to Tender is the flesh.
