Hello, dear friends, how’s it going? I hope all is well and if not I hope brighter days head your way soon!
I realize I’ve been mostly gone this month, sadly. I regret to report that… I had an overwhelming amount of schoolwork due. Yes, it’s a sad excuse, but what’s even sadder is that it’s true! But I am finally free (!!!) of my schoolwork and my summer break has begun!
Of course, because I had school, I didn’t consume too much media. But let’s take a look at what did go down this past month…
what i posted
what i’m reading
👁️ The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake …*big sigh*… Are we even surprised anymore? But good news is I’m nearly done!! Truth be told, I didn’t do much reading at all, periodt, in June, so I’m excited to dive back into this book in July!
what i watched
⚔️ The Wheel of Time (Season 1) I finished this season of The Wheel of Time and…wow! This show reminded me of why I love high fantasy stories! I was totally swept away by the intrigue, the action, the adventure—the everything!!! I’ve never read the books that The Wheel of Time is adapted from, so I can’t comment on how well the show adapted the source material, but on its own…this show is breathtaking, y’all.
✈️ The Flight Attendant Honestly I feel kinda “meh” about this one? It was sold as an intrigue-filled mystery/thriller with light comedy sprinkled in, but truthfully I feel like the actual hook of the first episode wasn’t too strong. I also feel like the show hasn’t so far given the audience any good reason to be invested in the characters. I’m gonna give it a few more episodes to see if it manages to grab me, though, so for now the jury’s out on this one.
☀️ The Summer I Turned Pretty I’ve never read the book trilogy by beloved YA author Jenny Han that this Amazon series is based on, but nevertheless I love it! I feel like this show does a really good job of capturing the feeling of being a teenager (yes, I do remember it, even at the ripe, old age of 27 *sigh*) and I found myself feeling so wistful and nostalgic as I watched it. It’s also, like, the perfect summer show! Bottom line: I highly recommend The Summer I Turned Pretty.
what i listened to
🌊 The Kleio Files This is a fascinating audiodrama all about an archeological expedition investigating a mysterious sunken city discovered in the Indian Ocean. Funnily enough, I actually discovered this podcast via the book community, as it’s actually written and produced by a writer whose tweet I saw in passing. And I gotta say: I’m glad I discovered it!
high notes
🎶 “Quiet On Set” by Remi Wolf This is such a fun, youthful song that gives the feel of sneaking around with your friends and getting into teenage shenanigans!
🎶 “Blutooth” by Blu DeTiger and Chromeo I’ve come to really appreciatiate the bass-centric groove of Blu DeTiger and mixed with a hint of Chromeo’s pop-funk, it’s perfection!
🎶 “Otro Atardecer” by Bad Bunny and The Marias What a summery song!
🎶 “Spring 1 – 2022” Arr. Max Richter I love this arrangement of Vivaldi’s “Spring”! First off, Vivaldi has always been my favorite classical composer and second off this arrangement is AMAZING!! I feel like it really recaptures the freedom of the original work, with a slightly modern twist that’s not too overbearing.
Have you ever given three speeches in a row??!?! Cause lemme tell ya—I had to this past month and even this here big ol’ extrovert was EXHAUSTED by the end of it!!! That being said, I managed to finish both of my courses exhausted but intact and with good grades! Success!! I’m still surprised that I somehow managed to pull it off, tbh. *wipes sweat from brow*
Not much happened aside from school, though! I was pretty fatigued and had a couple of bad pain flares through the month, which was unfortunate, but thankfully I’m feeling a bit better now.
what i plan on doing in july 2022
July is looking to be a fun month, seeing as I’m on summer break and already have a few plans! I’ll be headed to the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival, so that’s bound to be a great time, plus I have a few other things up my sleeves that hopefully I’ll manage to pull off! It should also be pretty relaxing since, as I mentioned, I’m off school!
Hello again, dear friends! I hope you are well and if not, I hope brighter days head your way soon! Today we have a bit of a different post, as I’m straying away from the realm of books. Today I’ll be talking about…music!
My whole life has very much been defined by music. I grew up in a musical household (my dad was a professional musician and my mom was an amateur musician for most of her life), so I suppose it was kinda inevitable that I’d be a musician, the only question was “What type?” It became pretty obvious I’d be a singer as soon as I could string sounds together, though. My mom always fondly recounts how when I was a baby and we’d take the bus I’d always be babbling little musical fragments of “aaaah”s and she’d always jokingly tell the other passengers, “My daughter’s going to be an opera singer!” Turns out mother knows best, as much later in life I did indeed choose to train as an opera and jazz singer 😂
Anyhoo, this is all to say music means more than words can express to me, which is why today’s post is pretty special to me. Today I want to talk about some of my all-time favorite song lyrics, inspired by this post from my fellow blogger, Riddhi!
Never be so kind, you forget to be clever Never be so clever, you forget to be kind
“marjorie” by taylor swift
To be honest, this entire song and its themes really struck at my heart and made me feel the ever-so-infamous Things™. Some background here: my father died when I was seven and my own grandmother died a year after that. This song speaks so beautifully about loss and what it’s like when when someone you love so deeply dies. It also beautifully conveys how you always carry the love and lessons of your loved ones who have passed on with you, regardless of their lack of physical presence your life. But that’s actually a sort-of tangent. I feel like these particular lyrics convey one of those beloved messages left behind in the wake of someone’s loss—and a gorgeous one that really speaks to me, personally, at that.
And I’m so sick of 17 Where’s my fucking teenage dream? If someone tells me one more time “Enjoy your youth, ” I’m gonna cry
“brutal” by olivia rodrigo
God, if these lyrics don’t capture that disappointing feeling of slowly growing up and realizing that life isn’t what you thought it would be, then I don’t know what does! There’s something to be said about the fact that the sentiment of these particular lyrics still ring true with me, despite the fact that age 27, I am way past 17 (and, just a heads up: I’m still wondering where my fucking teenage dream is). I feel like these lyrics—hell, this entire album—really strike at the heart of that uniquely teen and twenty-something urge to just scream and rage at life for how unfair it is. I love this because girls and women are so rarely (if ever) allowed to publicly express anger, even when that anger is justified, like being angry at the unique and inherent injustice we endure throughout our lives. In this way, Rodrigo’s anger at life not reflecting the dream she was sold is surprisingly refreshing!
To be wanted with truth And make formidable love See light in myself That I see inside everyone else I know
“the deepest of sighs, the frankest of shadows” cover by gretta ray
Do you want to know a secret, friends? This is one of the only songs that makes me crank out the tears like a fountain. In particular, this is a song lyric that is so hard to talk about because it just so elegantly and concisely describes emotions I’ve felt so deeply for my entire life. My whole life I’ve felt this incredible lonliness and this song helped me to know that I’m not alone in that feeling, which in and of itself made me feel a little less alone.
I’ve got so much soul inside my bones
“Ultralife” by oh wonder
I feel like this lyric perfectly describes who I am as a human being! I’ve always been very vivacious and full of so much life. This lyric captures that feeling of just being bursting with soul and eagerness to experience all that life has to give. Whenever I hear this song, I remember who I am and why I should love myself, and that’s one of the best things a song can give, in my opinion.
And I like sometimes to wave it high Up where everyone can see I’m a lady Got my mind made up Got my mind made up I know I spend magic reel it out Try to hold a light to me I’m a lady Got my mind made up Got my mind made up
“I’m A lady” by santigold
I loved this song when I was in my late teens/early twenties and I recently rediscovered it and remembered why I loved it so much. I feel like these lyrics are just such a beautiful, simple celebration of being a woman and, in the world of late spring/early summer of 2022 where the US’s Roe v. Wade ruling is likely to be reversed, I just needed this song right when it found me again!
You taught me the courage of stars before you left How light carries on endlessly, even after death With shortness of breath You explained the infinite And how rare and beautiful it is to even exist
“Saturn” by sleeping at lAst
Is there anyone who doesn’t cry when they hear this song??? Because I do, like, every time! These lyrics mean so much to me because they remind me how precious life is and how even after death the ones we love never really leave us. Whether it’s their memories, or the impression of light their images leave on the backs of our eyelids, they’re always there and nothing and no one can take that love from us.
Well, dear friends, that’s all I have for you today. I hope you enjoyed this post and/or maybe found a new song to go listen to! Definitely share your own favorite lyrics in the comments—I’d love to know which ones have struck a chord with you! Until next time…
spill the beans, friends
What are some of your favorite lyrics?
Do you have any song lyrics that feel like they define a particular period in your lifetime?
Hello, dear friends! I hope you are all well and if not, I hope better days head your way soon!
Well, friends, here we are at the middle of the year—can you believe it? It feels slightly surreal that we’ve made it here; it so often feels like the world is ending every day and yet here we are! I guess we’ve made it!!
My May was a surprisingly busy. I’m taking courses this summer, so those started back in mid-May and I’ve been hard at work ever since. Of course, this has meant less time for reading, sadly. Strangely enough, though, I did watch a bunch of movies? Which is weird considering I typically don’t watch movies that much, haha! Regardless, I had a pretty happy month, so let’s take a look at what went down!
😈 Clara and the Devil Part II by Olivie Blake & Little Chmura (⭐⭐⭐⭐) This is a quietly elegant and mysterious webcomic that progresses at an achingly, artfully slow pace, but somehow manages to keep me hooked! Part II added so much more intrigue and I’m itching to see what The Devil has up their sleeve!
what i’m reading
👁️ The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake Yes, I am still reading and savoring this book. Yes, I am still wildly in love with this book.
👑 The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri This is our Pages in Colour book club selection for this quarter and I’m so excited to finally be digging into this Adult Fantasy that I’ve heard so many great things about!
🔍 The Agathas by Liz Lawson and Kathleen Glasgow This book looked so intriguing and like a great mystery, plus after finishing up all of the Truly Devious books that are currently released, I needed a new mystery book/series to obsess over. And so far, this book has been a really good option! I just LOVE the voice of both POV characters and the plot has me hanging on each word!
⚔️ Squire by Nadia Shammas and Sara Alfageeh I’ve loved Alfageeh’s art for years now, so when I heard she’d be working on a #OwnVoices Arab-inspired fantasy graphic novel with Nadia Shammas, I knew I had to get my hands on it! So, obviously, I’ve been borrowing it from my local library and reading it as much as possible whenever I get the chance.
what i watched
🍓 The Hating Game (⭐⭐⭐⭐) I thought this was really cute! I’ve never read the book, so I can’t speak on how it compares, but as a rom com movie on its own, I thought it was great (and that’s coming from someone who’s not that into rom coms in general)! The lead actors had great chemistry and there was a nice balance of cute moments and sexy moments! I will say that the third act conflict felt a little contrived, but that’s really my only complaint.
🔎 Death on the Nile (⭐⭐) I was so excited to watch this film, even without having read the book, but unfortunately this one was a major disappointment. Mostly while watching the film I found myself shockingly bored. The characters lacked charisma, the plot felt incredibly static, and, worst of all, I figured out half of the solution to the mystery from the start.
🏮Everything Everywhere All At Once (⭐⭐⭐) This movie wasn’t my favorite, but it was interesting nonetheless. It had a lot of themes concerning anthropology and psychology and I definitely enjoyed that commentary, although I do think it got kinda jumbled in a couple of places. I will say that this is a very culturally Chinese film, and I think I would’ve enjoyed it and understood it infinitely more if I were Chinese. Apart from that, the cinematography was incredible and reflected the themes of the film with stunning accuracy. Trigger warning for depression and suicidality. Also wouldn’t recommend this film if you have seizures and/or get migraines easily, as the movie has a lot of rapid fire flashing lights and images.
🚲 Along for the Ride (⭐⭐⭐) I actually read the book this was adapted from back when I was fifteen! Nowadays I’m not the biggest fan of contemporary YA, though, so maybe it’s not super surprising that I thought this movie was just alright? I remember that back when I read the book I wasn’t a big fan of Auden, largely because her personality is the polar opposite of mine, and watching the movie brought back all of those feelings. The other thing is that the actor playing Eli spoke with a stereotypical “fuckboi accent” and it made it hard to take his emotional beats opposite Auden seriously. But I digress. I guess this movie just wasn’t my thing, and you know what? That’s okay.
💎 Ocean’s Eight (⭐⭐⭐) Wasn’t my favorite, but it was still cute. I haven’t seen the other films, though, so I might be missing context? Either way, the characters felt a bit stale and the plot lacked a certain gravitas. I guess, overall, the film felt a little…tame, I guess?? Y’all, I think Six of Crows has ruined me for heist stories…
what i listened to
may 2022 playlist
high notes
“I’m A Lady” by Santigold If you’ve been looking for an awesome feminist anthem, I highly recommend this one!
“The Deepest of Sighs, The Frankest of Shadows” by Gretta Ray I love this song so much. Brb, sobbing right now…
“MEAN!” by Madeline The Person This song is so comforting and affirming.
“It’s Givin” by Latto Gotta have a fun summer anthem on the list!
🌞 SOLARThis podcast was recommended to me by Spotify and I gotta say: I’ll be damned if the Spotify algorithm doesn’t have my taste in music and podcasts down to a T! I instantly fell in love with this immersive sci fi audiodrama about survivors of a space flight disaster who are stranded on separate sides of a spaceship. There’s so much intrigue and the stakes are high in this one, leaving me constantly on the edge of my seat. I’d highly recommend SOLAR, especially if you’re a fan of the audiobooks for The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.
I actually had a pretty good month! My summer semester started on May 16th and I’ve really enjoyed being back in class after having taken the Spring 2022 semester off! I’m actually retaking Health and Intro to Communication (the first time I took both of these classes I had a health crisis and my grades suffered) and I’m surprised to find that I’m really enjoying both! Both of the classes are structured very much like applied sociology courses and, since I enjoy sociology, I’m enjoying that aspect of both courses. I also feel like both courses teach info that’s very applicable to my real life, so I really appreciate that as well.
I also got together with friends a couple of times in May. A group of my friends from school and I went to see Everything Everywhere All At Once, so that was really fun. I also reconnected with an old friend and have been enjoying catching up with them too. Other than that, though, May was mostly filled with schoolwork.
what i’m looking forward to in june 2022
I don’t really know what this June will bring except for more schoolwork, honestly. I am planning to go to the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival, so I’m looking forward to that. I’d love to go to maybe a Profs & Pints lecture or attend Sunset for Dancers, but it’s all kinda up in the air for now. Other than that, though, who knows what the month will bring!
spill the beans, friends!
How was your May?
Did you read anything interesting?
Is there anything you’re looking forward to coming up this June?
Friends, we’re almost there! That’s right: it’s almost time for The Fourth Annual Official Hot Girl Summer!! Now, if you’ve somehow been living under a rock and thus are a little clueless as to what “Hot Girl Summer,” is, let me help fill you in. “Hot Girl Summer” is just a summertime of maximizing you…er…hot…girl…ness… Which may leave you wondering what exactly a “Hot Girl” is. Don’t worry, though, friends! Dictionary.com has you covered with a meme definition!*
Liv[ing] your best life! Hot girl summer is a meme, originating with rapper Megan Thee Stallion, about feeling confident in who you are—and having fun and looking good while doing it.
* SIDENOTE: I didn’t even know that Dictionary.com now has a section dedicated to explaining memes, but apparently it does?
Now, to me, being a “hot girl” means being the fiercest version of you for you. Obviously, that can mean many different things to different people, but to me that means loving myself and being a confident, empowered woman who recognizes the power in her womanhood. And, of course, that involves reading some A+ “hot girl literature”! So let’s take a look at my “Hot Girl TBR”!
daisy jones & the six by taylor jenkins reid
Why It’s A “Hot Girl” Book: I’ll admit it: I’ve already read 50% of this book, so I’m taking what I’ve read into consideration. That being said, this book is definitely a book for hot girls. Its central themes are very much about women, and the power in the unique strengths of each individual woman.
Why I Think I’ll Like It: As I mentioned previously, I’m already partially through Daisy Jones & The Six, so I already know that I enjoy what I’ve read. Plus I loved Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, so I find it unlikely that I’ll ultimately end up hating Daisy Jones.
gone girl by gillian flynn
Why It’s A “Hot Girl” Book: Personally, I think that the first stage of becoming a certified Hot Girl is going through a “Villain Era,” which is a period of time where you decide to be unapolagectic about putting yourself first. And what’s more “Villain Era” than the OG female villain in popular literature, Amy Dunn of Gone Girl. In fact, if I recall correctly, Gillian Flynn has actually discussed that a theme of her works is allowing women to be villains without villifying them more or less than a man would be villified in the same situation.
Why I Think I’ll Like It: What can I say—I’m a sucker for a good ol’ well-rounded, intricate, and complicated female villain! Plus I’ve really gotten into mysteries and thrillers of late, so I think this book will be a real home run for me.
beautiful world, where are you by sally rooney
Why It’s A “Hot Girl” Book: What’s more “Hot Girl” than a book about life, love, and Marxism? Nothing, dear friends. In all seriousness, though, I’ve seen this book on so many “Hot Girl books” lists! So, naturally, I figured it’d be remiss of me to leave it off this my personal “Hot Girl books” list.
Why I Think I’ll Like It: I have a secret for you, dear friends, and it is that I, myself, could be considered a bit of a Marxist. So, of course, given Rooney’s well publicized Marxist beliefs, I’ve been pretty interested to see if/how she incorporates said beliefs into her works. I’m also kind of curious as to Rooney’s writing, as she’s such a popular author and I’ve seen so many people touting her books as “modern classics”.
the love hypothesis by ali hazelwood
Why It’s A “Hot Girl” Book: Every Hot Girl needs some hot romance in her life, whether it’s real life or fictional, and I hear The Love Hypotheis delivers just that! Besides, call me biased as a physicist-in-training, but women in STEM like the main character are required to have certifiable Hot Girl levels of empowerment to make it in our chosen fields!
Why I Think I’ll Like It: As mentionied previously, I, like the main character, am a woman in STEM, plus I’ve been craving a good romance novel, so I was inevitably drawn to this rumored-to-be sizzling love story starrring two scientists!
the invisible life of addie larue by v.e. schwab
Why It’s A “Hot Girl” Book: Apparently there’s an overlap between Hot Girl books and Sad Girl books? Well, this book is as sad as I’m willing to go! What can I say, I’m an Enneagram Type Seven and we do not like wallowing in sadness.
Why I Think I’ll Like It: Okay, admittedly I’ve already read about 25% of this book and have seriously enjoyed it so far. I love the themes of loss, loneliness, and legacy and Schwab’s evocative writing. If I’m being honest, so far the book is just pure vibes, but I won’t lie, I’m eating it all up anyway!
they never learn by layne fargo
Why It’s A “Hot Girl” Book: In a similar vein to Gone Girl, this book also focuses partially on a “female villain protagonist,” in this case a university professor who murders male faculty who’ve raped or sexually assaulted people. And feminist vigilante justice? Now that’s real Hot Girl shit, lol!
Why I Think I’ll Like It: As I mentioned above, I love female antagonists, plus this book is supposedly dark academia, which is an aesthetic I’m a big fan of! Plus I’ve only ever heard rave reviews of They Never Learn, so I’m hoping I’ll love it too.
great goddesses by nikita gill
Why It’s A “Hot Girl” Book:Great Goddesses is a collection of poetry by Nikita Gill that focuses on feminism through the lense of mythology. And we all know that there’s no greater Hot Girl than a literal goddess.
Why I Think I’ll Like It: I’ve been a major fan of Gill’s poetry for literal years now, so I’m super excited to read more of her works which are focused on goddesses and feminism! She typically focuses very much on themes of female empowerment, healing, and self love and I feel like that’s exactly what I need at the mmoment.
That’s all for today, dear friends! I hope you enjoyed this post and maybe found a book or two to add to your own Hot Girl TBR! Happy Hot Girl Summer and happy reading! Until next time, dear friends…
Hello, dear friends! How’s it going? I hope you are well and, if not, I hope brighter days head your way soon. Today I have an exciting new(ish) endeavor for me: a podcast by yours truly!
Admittedly, this isn’t my first attempt at podcasting. A couple of years ago, I took a stab at it but couldn’t find a distributor that I liked. This time, though, I’m using Anchor to distribute the podcast through Spotify! Anyhoo, enough boring logistics talk; let’s get to the good stuff! My all-new podcast is called Worlds Beyond Words and in it I aim to discuss books and their anthropological, sociological, and psychological effects on us humans, both as a collective and as individuals. I’llbe posting episodes once a month via Spotify.
I’m so excited for this new endeavor and I’m so happy to share it with y’all! I have so many thoughts and I’ve always been a big talker, so podcasting has been somethingI’ve wanted to really try for a long time.
I will admit: this first episode is a bit shakey in regards to quality. I’m still learning the ropes of podcasting and I left this episode virtually unedited, so bare with me for all the “ums” and “uhs” that I left in.
In the wake of the recent news about the US Supreme Court’s likely decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, I decided to tackle the topic of “strong female characters.” So, without any further ado, I’m pleased to present to you Episode #1 of Worlds Beyond Words!
DESCRIPTION:
Lila unpacks her feelings about stereotypical “strong female characters” in literature and what that really means. She also discusses the kind of female representation she’d like to see and dives into female characters she identifies with.
BOOKS MENTIONED:
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
spill the beans, friends!
What are your thoughts on “strong female characters”?
Who are some female characters you relate to and why?
What are your thoughts on the current state of female representation in literature?
How do you think femal representation in literature affects us both as individuals and as a society?
Hello, dear friends! How’s everything going with you? I hope everything is well, and if not, I hope brighter days head your way soon!
Well, friends, this past April was quite a month and it felt altogether too fast and too slow all at the same time! What a weird time warp we’re living in… But enough about The Utter Strangeness of Time, friends—I’ve got updates for you! Turns out this past month was the month I (FINALLY!) started to chow down on some good ol’ entertainment media again! Let’s take a look back!
quick updates!
To avoid any confusion, we’ve changed the name of our book club from Diversity’s Lit to Pages in Colour
🔎 The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake I mentioned last month that I loved this book so far and planned on savoring it slowly and I can confirm that that is, indeed, still the case! I cannot stress enough how much I’m enjoying this read and, honestly, unless the ending is a massive flop, I think this will DEFINITELY be a new favorite!
🧞 The River of Silver by S.A. Chakraborty This is another audiobook that I’m enjoying savoring. The Daevabad Trilogy is one of my all-time favorite series, so I totally love being back in the same world!
👑 The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri This is our quarterly book club pick for Pages in Colour, so I’m very excited to dive into it with everyone!
what i watched
the witcher (season 2)
🐺 I’m only three episodes into this season, but already I’m pretty reinvested! Tbh, at the moment I’m mostly here for Yennifer’s storyline, though. If I’m being completely honest, Ciri and Geralt’s training montages aren’t my favorite. That being said, I know they’re leading up to something bigger, and I can’t wait to see what that is!
moonshot
🌛 Honestly, while I found Moonshot mildly cute, overall, I felt like it was also pretty underwhelming. From what I’ve seen I seem to be in the minority here, but I just didn’t think Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse had any chemistry and that really brought the film down for me.
shadow and bone (season 1)
✨ With the exception of one quibble, I absolutely LOVED this adaptation! It was very true to the source text and I feel like everything that was changed or added was very on brand for the original characters. My single issue was how Alina’s race was handled, but aside from that, this adaptation was total perfection!
howl’s moving castle
🏰 I was feeling kinda blue and wanted to watch something cute to cheer me up, and thus I found myself watching Howl’s Moving Castle for the first time. I found it absolutely enchanting, and it did indeed work to lift my mood! Now I have a new film to add to my favorites list!
heartstopper (season 1)
🌈 I’ve only watched the first two episodes of this show, but so far, I think it’s very cute and a great adaptation! That being said, I think that for now I’m going to set the show aside for later, seeing as I’m really not in the mood for a cutesy YA contemporary romance and I don’t want my mood to affect my feelings about the show. But I look forward to eventually watching the rest of the season!
what i listened to
april 2022 playlist
high notes
“As It Was” by Harry Styles Okay but, like, who among us isn’t obsessed with this song???
“my strange addiction” by Billie Eilish I’m quickly becoming a fan of Billie’s!
“Problems” by DeathbyRomy To quote Logic, “Who can relate? Whoo!”
“Turning Page” by Sydney Rose I wasn’t a massive fan of the original song, but this cover is perfection!
kalila stormfire’s economical magick services
I’ve mentioned in a previous wrap up that I love this audiodrama podcast, so it’s probably no surprise that I’m still enjoying it after having randomly taken a long break from listening. I love that this podcast is a calmer, slower audiodrama that’s more like a slice-of-life, cozy fantasy than an action/adventure fantasy. It’s been just what I’ve needed lately!
Write Through The Night featured a lovely review of Bridgerton Season 2 which included a wonderful #ownvoices discussion of the representation in the season
Ali Olomi is a historian of The Middle East and Islam who regularly posts Twitter threads on Middle Eastern and Islamic folklore, mythology, and history. Definitely take a read!
what i did in april 2022
In all honesty, April was a pretty up and down month. What can I say, there were highs and there were lows. I got together with friends a couple of times, though, and that was really nice and very much long overdue and necessary. My best friend also gave me a much needed hair cut and styling—don’t you worry, though, because she does have a cosmetology degree, haha! Also, for the most part, the weather was really beautiful, and that made me happy! Ooooh! I almost forgot—I also purchased and received my copy of Cain’s Jawbone, the murder mystery puzzle book that’s been taking TikTok by storm (and I wholeheartedly blame Jack Edwards for this ridiculously fun impulse buy)! I plan on gathering together a group of friends to try and work it out! Other than that, though, there wasn’t much going on.
what i plan on doing in may 2022
Aside from working on Cain’s Jawbone, I have a couple of fun plans for this May. I’m actually supposed to go see Everything Everywhere All At Once with several friends from my old philosophy class, so I’m really looking forward to that! I also may go to a Smithsonian lecture on Hans Christin Andersen and his fairy tale collections. I’d also love to start this self taught dance class sequence that’s available for free via YouTube, but I’m a little nervous, as I haven’t danced in a while and I’m really perfectionistic and self critical when it comes to my own efforts with new endeavors. Still, I’m trying to remind myself that nobody starts perfect and that if I let go, I can have some fun. Besides those activities, everything is up in the air and I’ll just have to take life as it comes!
spill the beans, friends!
How was your April?
Did you do anything fun and/or read any good books?
Hello, dear friends! I hope you all are well, and if not, I hope brighter days head your way soon!
Today I have an exciting announcement for you! Rae of Bookmark Chronicles, Sumedha at The Wordy Habitat, and I have created a digital book club! It’s called Diversity’s Lit “Pages in Colour,” and it’s a quarterly book club that starts up this upcoming May and that will focus on diverse fantasy! We’re so excited to bring this project to life and to share in it with y’all! We’ll be running the club via Discord, where we’re hoping to have discussions, activities, and events.
this quarter’s selection
Author of Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne, beginning a new trilogy set in a world inspired by the history and epics of India, in which a captive princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic become unlikely allies on a dark journey to save their empire from the princess’s traitor brother.
Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of the powerful, magical deathless waters — but is now little more than a decaying ruin.
Priya is a maidservant, one among several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to clean Malini’s chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, so long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides.
But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne. The other is a priestess seeking to find her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire.
I’m also happy to announce that this upcoming quarter’s selection is The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri! We’ll be reading it from May 1, 2022 to July 31, 2022. I’ve heard so many great things about this book, so I’m very excited to be reading it with y’all! As a quick note, you’re welcome to read/listen to our quarterly selections as a physical book, e-book, and/or audiobook. I, personally, have The Jasmine Throne on audiobook (which is my preferred format), so that’s how I’ll be consuming it.
Marhaba and hello, dear friends! I hope all is well, and if not, I hope brighter days head your way soon!
Well, Indigenous American History Month was back in November, Black History Month was in February, and Women’s History Month was March, but the party isn’t coming to a halt just yet, because this month—April—commemorates yet another part of my heritage and identity! That’s right, dear friends: it’s Arab American Heritage Month! This month we celebrate the rich diversity of the various Arab ethnic groups and the many contributions of Arabs to the US, as well as to the world—from astronomy to algebra to the alphabet! And in celebration, I figured I’d share a bit of my Lebanese culture and top it off with some Middle Eastern book recommendations!
Some background: My mom’s side of the family is from the West Asian Mediterranean Arab country of Lebanon, which sits right on the coast between Syria and Palestine. My family is Maronite, meaning they are members of the Eastern Catholic Maronite Church (based mainly in Lebanon), and my great grandfather—an ambassador—immigrated from Beirut, Lebanon to the US around the turn of the 20th century.
Lebanese people are known for our hospitality, our delicious food (think: hummus, lmao!), and our chic fashion sense (oh–and our beautiful people too, haha! 😉 ). Our traditional folk dance is dabke, and we love to break out into it when given literally any reason, lol!
The basics of Lebanese dabke
Like many Arab cultures, Lebanese people are very community oriented and social. The extended family “clan” unit is the center of your social life, and your close friends are often seen as extensions of your family as well. We also are very expressive—as most Arab cultures are. We are boisterous and speak with our hands a lot, haha!
I could go on forever, but that’s just a glimpse at the Lebanese part of my cultural heritage and identity and hopefully you’re interested in learning more! But let’s move to the book recommendations section!
PLEASE NOTE: I am including books by and about peoples originating from the MENA (Middle East & North Africa) region that are not all “Arab” in strict terms What does this mean? Imazighen, Persians, Kurds, etc. They are not Arab, nor do they self-identify as Arab. And I in no way wish to conflate any/all MENA cultures. All of us have beautiful and unique national and sub-national ethnic cultures! Unfortunately, in the US most people from the MENA area (and even some from Central Asia) are often lumped under the term “Arab,” despite the fact that not all of us are ethnically “Arab.” So, when the US designates months like “Arab American Heritage Month,” Persians, Imazighem, Kurds, etc. are simultaneously left out and also lumped into a cultural grouping that they don’t identify with. In this way, the US government erases the unique cultures of MENA and the nuanced experiences we all have in the US, in our countries of origin, and elsewhere. My “temporary solution” to this is to make this post a post including cultures from MENA aside from Arab, but also to make sure you know that those cultures are not the same as Arab. I want you to know those cultures too, to celebrate them as Middle Easterners/North Africans as much as you know of and celebrate Arabs. I hope these books can be a starting point to get you interested in knowing of and celebrating ALL of our beautiful cultures!
the stardust thief by chelsea abdullah
arab (general)
Neither here nor there, but long ago…
Loulie al-Nazari is the Midnight Merchant: a criminal who, with the help of her jinn bodyguard, hunts and sells illegal magic. When she saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp that has the power to revive the barren land—at the cost of sacrificing all jinn.
With no choice but to obey or be executed, Loulie journeys with the sultan’s oldest son to find the artifact. Aided by her bodyguard, who has secrets of his own, they must survive ghoul attacks, outwit a vengeful jinn queen, and confront a malicious killer from Loulie’s past. And, in a world where story is reality and illusion is truth, Loulie will discover that everything—her enemy, her magic, even her own past—is not what it seems, and she must decide who she will become in this new reality.
Inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights, The Stardust Thief weaves the gripping tale of a legendary smuggler, a cowardly prince, and a dangerous quest across the desert to find a legendary, magical lamp.
The Stardust Thief is actually an upcoming May 2022 release that I am ridiculously excited for! It’s an #OwnVoices Arab fantasy based on multiple stories from 1001 Nights and it sounds AMAZING! I’ve heard rave reviews from readers with ARCs, so I’ve already preordered the audiobook in preparation!
mirage by somaiya daud
moroccan (amazighi)
In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.
But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.
As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection…because one wrong move could lead to her death.
Mirage is an intricate and intrigue-filled YA fantasy sci fi that is based off of the author’s own Indigenous Moroccan (Amazighi) culture. With themes of colonialism, interpersonal racism, and political racism, Mirage is definitely a hard-hitting sci fi, while not being incredibly dense. Daud writes about these heavy topics with the delicate nuance required to help readers of all ages understand what they entail without beating the reader over the head. Mirage is definitely a must read to add to your TBR immediately!
this woven kingdom by tahereh mafi
persian
Clashing empires, forbidden romance, and a long-forgotten queen destined to save her people—bestselling author Tahereh Mafi’s first in an epic, romantic trilogy inspired by Persian mythology.
To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight.
The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world.
Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Tomi Adeyemi, and Sabaa Tahir, this is the explosive first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling and National Book Award-nominated author Tahereh Mafi.
This is a recently released YA fantasy by beloved author Tahereh Mafi, and it is based on mythology from Mafi’s own Persian culture. The reviews have been stellar, from what I’ve seen, and this looks like one heck of an epic fantasy (pun intended 😉 )!
darius the great is not okay by adib khorram
persian
Darius doesn’t think he’ll ever be enough, in America or in Iran.
Darius Kellner speaks better Klingon than Farsi, and he knows more about Hobbit social cues than Persian ones. He’s about to take his first-ever trip to Iran, and it’s pretty overwhelming—especially when he’s also dealing with clinical depression, a disapproving dad, and a chronically anemic social life. In Iran, he gets to know his ailing but still formidable grandfather, his loving grandmother, and the rest of his mom’s family for the first time. And he meets Sohrab, the boy next door who changes everything.
Sohrab makes sure people speak English so Darius can understand what’s going on. He gets Darius an Iranian National Football Team jersey that makes him feel like a True Persian for the first time. And he understands that sometimes, best friends don’t have to talk. Darius has never had a true friend before, but now he’s spending his days with Sohrab playing soccer, eating rosewater ice cream, and sitting together for hours in their special place, a rooftop overlooking the Yazdi skyline.
Sohrab calls him Darioush—the original Persian version of his name—and Darius has never felt more like himself than he does now that he’s Darioush to Sohrab. When it’s time to go home to America, he’ll have to find a way to be Darioush on his own.
I’ve heard so many rave reviews for Darius The Great Is Not Okay, ESPECIALLY from Persian American reviewers. In particular, I know that Hannah of the booktube channel A Clockwork Reader and Daria at the booktube channel FullOfLit (both of whom happen to be Persian American) are MASSIVE fans of this book and its sequel, often noting that it really resonated with them and touched their hearts. After hearing so many glowing reviews, this book has definitely slid up on my TBR.
aminah mae safi books
arab (general)
All of Aminah Mae Safi’s books are contemporary novels starring sapphic Arab girls and that fact alone has me cheering! In particular, I’m interested in reading This Is All Your Fault, which is about three teen girls teaming up to save the beloved bookstore they work at.
sara farizan books
persian
Similarly, Sara Farizan’s works are all contemporary novels about queer Persian teens! Fun fact: Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel and If You Could Be Mine were the first books I ever became aware of with #OwnVoices sapphic representation, back when I was in high school in the early 2010s. Talk about Sara Farizan being ahead of a trend! Truthfully, I rarely hear from other readers about Farizan’s works, but when I do, it’s all glowing reviews! I definitely can’t wait for the day I pick one of these lovely books up!
habibi by naomi shihab nye
arab (palestinian)
An award-winning novel about identity, family, and friendship from renowned writer and editor Naomi Shihab Nye.
The day after Liyana got her first real kiss, her life changed forever. Not because of the kiss, but because it was the day her father announced that the family was moving from St. Louis all the way to Palestine. Though her father grew up there, Liyana knows very little about her family’s Arab heritage. Her grandmother and the rest of her relatives who live in the West Bank are strangers and speak a language she can’t understand. It isn’t until she meets Omer that her homesickness fades. But Omer is Jewish, and their friendship is silently forbidden in this land. How can they make their families understand? And how can Liyana ever learn to call this place home?
This is a special book to me, as it was actually the first ever #OwnVoices Arab American book I’d ever read (I read it back when I was 14 and it’s stuck with me ever since). The story is about a mixed White/Palestinian teen girl who’s grown up in America but her family suddenly decides to move to her father’s homeland of Palestine. It does address themes of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, of course, but it also addresses themes of what it means to be Arab in America versus what it mean to be an Arab in The Middle East and also general themes of religion, identity, and girlhood. The blurb makes it seem like Habibi is very focused on the relationship between Liyanna (the main character) and her friend, an Israeli boy named Omer, but really the book (from what I remember) is more focused on Liyanna’s understanding of her identity as a Palestinian American girl and her relationship to her cultural heritage. In all honestly, I can’t say whether or not this book would hold up today (after all, I read it 13 years ago), but I can say that it will definitely always have a special place in my heart!
So, that’s all for today, dear friends! I’ve had so much fun sharing about part of my cultural heritage and also giving some book recommendations. Happy Arab American Heritage Month and I hope I helped you find a book or two that you might like!
spill the beans, friends
Have you read any of these books? If so, what are your thoughts?
Hey, friends! How’s everyone doing? I hope you all are well, and if not, I hope brighter days head your way soon!
It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? March was a surprisingly busy month for me, at least in the “life” sphere. And now here we are, at the end of another month, with 2022 somehow rushing onward. Someone mentioned to me that it’s been two years since the pandemic began and I just…what?! Like, can you believe it?! So strange…*shakes head*
Anyhoo, I made more progress on all of the media I’m consuming, so let’s check that out…
👁 I’m currently reading and LOVING The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake! After a long and absolutely brutal reading slump, this the first time in literal months that I’ve felt excited about what I’m reading. I’m still listening to the audiobook rather slowly, but this time it’s because I want to take my time and savor the story.
So, this is actually my TBR for the next few months, since I’m extending the timeline of the Orilium: Spring Equinox readathon. This is because I deal with chronic fatigue and because, as I mentioned above, I’ve been in a real rough reading slump for nearly a year. Instead of beginning April 1st and ending on April 30th, I will keep the starting date the same and finish when the August readathon begins.
Prompt
Specifications
Book Choice
Character Prompt: Urban
Set in a town or city
Book of Night by Holly Black
Character Prompt: Darkmeadow
Dark academia
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Conduit Prompt: Sword
Blade on the cover
The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport
Legacy Prompt: Monocle of Vigilance
Mystery or thriller
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Calling Prompt: Alchemy
Potion of Infatuation: Featuring romance
Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May
Calling Prompt: Inscription
Strength Glyph: Intimidating read
City of Dusk by Tara Sim
Calling Prompt: Artificery
Schematic Literacy: Earth setting
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
Calling Prompt: Spells & Incantation
Anti Gravity Spell: Short stories/essays
The River of Silver by S.A. Chakraborty
Calling Prompt: Art of Illusion
Mirror Image: A book with a trope you like
In A Garden Burning Gold by Rory Power
Calling Prompt: Conjuration
Conjuring of Light: Source of light on the cover
Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse
what i acquired from publishers
what i watched
the sex lives of college girls
I don’t know what it is about dramedies produced by Mindy Kaling, but I just find them so endearing! And The Sex Lives of College Girls is no different! Each of the girls is unique and distinct, but all are still incredibly relatable in their own ways. Gotta say though, three episodes in and I think my favorite of the gang is Bela.
what i listened to
high notes
“Badi Dal” by Elyanna // I’ve made my love for Elyanna no secret, so are we really surprised a song off her latest album is on the list this month?
“Burning Up (Fire)” by BTS // This track has me warming up to BTS (pun intended!)
“Something New” by Zendaya and Chris Brown // I love Zendaya, but hate Chris Brown as a person, but I can’t help but enjoy this song, which has an almost old-style R&B groove.
“Baby” by Cannons // I recently discovered Cannons when one of my favorite YouTubers mentioned going to their concert and I fell in love with their music!
March was full of spring cleaning and that was mostly it. I did also have a cookout with friends and family, and that was nice and fun. I also started tutoring a friend in calculus, in part so that I can do one of my periodic brush-ups on calculus and math “basics.” So it was good to get started on that. The weather here has been swinging between 40℉ and 70℉ on a daily basis and that’s made it pretty tough to make plans to get out and do stuff with friends, but hopefully that’ll change in April.
what i hope for in april 2022
There are a lot of fun events happening around D.C. this upcoming month, but whether or not I’ll make it to any depends on a lot of different factors. There are cherry blossom season festivities, a F.R.I.E.N.D.S set replica exhibit, seasonal art exhibits, and some fun lectures all taking place at least partially in April, plus a belly dance class I’m considering enrolling in. The only thing that’s set in stone, though, is that there’s plenty of spring cleaning left to do, lol! Regardless of what ends up happening, I’m sure I’ll manage to sneak some fun in somewhere!
spill the bean, friends!
How was your March?
What are you reading?
Anything on the horizon that you’re looking forward to?
Hello, dear friends! I hope all is well and, if not, I hope brighter days head your way soon!
Today I have a very special post that I’m so excited to share with you! It’s an interview with Lillie Lainoff, debut author of One for All, an own voices retelling of The Three Musketeers starring a girl who’s chronically ill/disabled and has POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Now, this book is so special to me, as I also have POTS! As far as publishers can tell, One for All is the first ever novel starring a main character with POTS!! And it’s a fantasy novel—can you believe it?!
And let me tell y’all: this book gets representation right in every way possibble! I’ve never felt so incredibly seen and understood while reading a book! Plus, it’s a super fun fantasy novel with endearing characters? I just…asfddjkhlkjjsdhkjagsdjgkbjkjb!!! I have no words!!!! I’m speechless, so here’s Lady Gaga to tell you all about it…
But enough about my word tangled ravings about how much I love this book. Let’s get on with the interview, which has been brought to you by Colored Pages Tours!
lillie lainoff interview
First and foremost, thank you for dropping by my little patch of internet today, it’s so lovely to have you! Before anything, can you give us a quick elevator pitch or logline for One For All?
Thank you so much for having me! ONE FOR ALL (or as I like to call it, sisterhood of the *stab stab*), is a gender-bent reimagining of The Three Musketeers, in which a girl with a chronic illness trains as a Musketeer and uncovers secrets, sisterhood, and self-love.
How did the story and the inspiration for One For All come to you?
I knew I wanted to write a book about fencing—choosing to reimagine The Three Musketeers felt natural. The Man in the Iron Mask was a movie we watched every summer at fencing camp and it had a huge impact on how I approach storytelling. In 2016/2017, when I first started writing One for All, there were very few current adaptations of TTM. And none of them reflected my experience as a fencer, what I loved about the sport and what it has given (and continues to give) me. So I knew it would be a good fit!
This book is so special to me, as a reader, because I’ve never seen myself, as someone who’s disabled/chronically ill—let alone someone who actually has POTS!—in anything other than contemporary fiction or nonfiction. At the same time, I recognize that representation isn’t a monolith and I’m sure you and I both know POTS has a wide variety of symptoms that vary in severity for each of us living with it and affect us in different ways. How do you craft a heroine who you feel can speak to all of us so well, without speaking for us all in every way possible?
First of all, thank you so much—I’m glad ONE FOR ALL can be that book/representation for you, and for other chronically ill and disabled readers (especially readers with POTS!) As to the second part of your question: this is actually something that’s been on my mind for years (while writing OFA, editing OFA, and the lead up to publication). As far as we know, OFA is the first book published by a traditional publisher with a main character with POTS syndrome. The added pressure of being a ‘first’, of feeling the need to represent every single person with POTS in Tania, is immense. POTSie readers (and chronically ill and disabled readers, for that matter), have had to wait for a long time to see themselves in the books they read. Early in the publication process, I felt like I had to make OFA everything to everyone. But that is impossible; as you said, the experience of POTS is not a monolith. I soon realized that the only way to write OFA was to have Tania’s experience of POTS mirror my own, as much as was possible for me to do so. And that authenticity I think is what resonates with readers. Her symptoms wane and strengthen depending on the day. A few of her symptoms are somewhat tolerable, others provide a constant struggle. She is fully realized; she is not a list of symptoms.
What was the most fun part of writing Tania’s story?
While the most emotional parts to write were Tania’s reflections on herself as a disabled girl in a world that isn’t very welcoming toward disabled girls, the most fun scenes to write by far were all the duel scenes! I finally got to use my 16+ years of competitive fencing experience in my writing—and what a joy it was! It also gave me the opportunity to write about what it’s like to fence with POTS; I’ve had opportunities to talk/write about what it’s like to be a disabled athlete in the abstract, but not many opportunities to talk/write about the concretes of the situation: how, for instance, Tania and I are forced to rely on the rhythms of the bout more than our sight, since dizziness wreaks havoc on depth perception (and vision in general). And I absolutely loved writing the final scene, showing how far Tania has come over the course of the novel.
If you had to give your characters aesthetics, what would they be?
Tania: that one toddler who spends the entire first day of school crying because they are lonely but REFUSES to ask the teacher for help/call home
Théa: looks cute, will stab
Aria: the human embodiment of a sword
Portia: the exhausted feminist mom friend who pretends to be apathetic but will destroy anyone who threatens her friends
If you could make a three song playlist for One For All, what songs would be on it?
I’m not sure I could give specific songs, but every song ever written/sung by Halsey and Ruelle? My specific ONE FOR ALL playlist that I listened to while writing was very pop-heavy (unlike what I usually listen to, both while writing and in general), and it’s strange to look back on those other songs and find that I don’t feel a strong connection with them anymore. OFA has changed so much since I started writing it.
If you can tell us, was there any scene you wrote that you really liked but that ultimately ended up being cut from the book?
Oh, this is such a good question! Two scenes immediately come to mind: the first was cut before I even sent the primary draft to my agent (the first draft was well over 130K.) It was a quiet scene with Tania and her mother doing embroidery together. There are lots of tense scenes in ONE FOR ALL, but some of my favorite scenes to write are quiet ones that really unpack character motivations and how characters interact with each other when they’re not threatened with a sword to their throat! The second scene was a spy scene that was cut during publisher edits: Tania was on a solo mission, aided by Henri, to find a list of names (that is as much as I can say about the scene since the rest is spoiler territory)—but my editor, Melissa Warten, was absolutely right in that I needed to compress the scene into another. I did a lot of that while editing OFA! The first draft (before it was sent to my agent) was approximately 130K (all these numbers are approximations), the draft I sent my agent was 112 K. Before sending it on submission to editors, around 30K words were cut and around 15K were added. And then, while editing, somewhere between 30 and 20K were cut and somewhere between 20 and 30K were added. Overall, that’s around 175K words written (and that doesn’t include rewrites of already existing scenes.) Like Tania, OFA underwent quite a transformation, largely due to its multiple subplots, and there are MANY deleted scenes that I have saved in my computer for future use. What will I use them for? Who knows…
What advice would you give fledgling writers, especially those of us who have chronic illnesses and/or disabilities?
You’ve probably heard the refrain “to be a writer, you must write everyday.” Ignore that. Ignore that, throw it in the garbage and set it on fire: gatekeeping the title of ‘writer’ benefits absolutely no one and the concept that someone has to write everyday to be considered a writer is inherently ableist, classist, etc. However, this is a refrain we hear a lot, which means that, even after telling yourself not to hold yourself to those standards, you might still feel like you need to. That is normal. Learning to forgive yourself is one of the most important parts of being a writer.
Something that’s been essential to my (and other disabled writers’) success is finding a group of disabled writers to be a part of. It doesn’t have to be large, it doesn’t have to be people you’ve met in real life… what matters is that you have a space to have conversations with other disabled writers about the specific obstacles and difficulties you face, as well as conversations about your successes! Nondisabled family and friends can be supportive, and so can nondisabled writers—but sometimes you need to talk to another writer who understands the frustration of setting aside time to write and then not having enough spoons, or having a migraine and not being able to look at your screen while typing, or what it feels like to receive an ableist rejection. Those disabled writers will be the ones who understand, fully, how exciting it is when you manage to write a paragraph despite being in the middle of a chronic illness flare, etc. I hope Disabled Kidlit Writers on FB can serve as that group for others, but, if you feel comfortable, it’s also great to have a smaller group chat of a few trusted disabled writer friends.
What do you hope readers take away from One For All?
That readers are worthy, just as they are. That needing help is not a weakness. And that everyone (including chronically ill/disabled girls) can be the heroes of their own stories.
all about one for all
Title: One For All Author: Lillie Lainoff Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Publication Date: March 8th, 2022 Pages: 400 Genres: Young Adult historical fantasy
An OwnVoices, gender-bent retelling of The Three Musketeers, in which a girl with a chronic illness trains as a Musketeer and uncovers secrets, sisterhood, and self-love.
Tania de Batz is most herself with a sword in her hand. Everyone in town thinks her near-constant dizziness makes her weak, nothing but “a sick girl”; even her mother is desperate to marry her off for security. But Tania wants to be strong, independent, a fencer like her father—a former Musketeer and her greatest champion.
Then Papa is brutally, mysteriously murdered. His dying wish? For Tania to attend finishing school. But L’Académie des Mariées, Tania realizes, is no finishing school. It’s a secret training ground for a new kind of Musketeer: women who are socialites on the surface, but strap daggers under their skirts, seduce men into giving up dangerous secrets, and protect France from downfall. And they don’t shy away from a swordfight.
With her newfound sisters at her side, Tania feels for the first time like she has a purpose, like she belongs. But then she meets Étienne, her first target in uncovering a potential assassination plot. He’s kind, charming, and breathlessly attractive—and he might have information about what really happened to her father. Torn between duty and dizzying emotion, Tania will have to lean on her friends, listen to her own body, and decide where her loyalties lie…or risk losing everything she’s ever wanted.
This debut novel is a fierce, whirlwind adventure about the depth of found family, the strength that goes beyond the body, and the determination it takes to fight for what you love.
Lillie Lainoff received her B.A. in English with a concentration in creative writing and distinction within the major from Yale University. She currently is studying for her MA in Creative Writing Prose Fiction at the University of East Anglia.
Her fiction, non-fiction, and poetry has been featured in The LA Review, The Washington Post Outlook, Today’s Parent, via the Disability Visibility Project, Washington City Paper, and The Yale Daily News, amongst other places. She’s received recognition from Glimmer Train and The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and is the 2019 Winner of the LA Review Literary Award for Short Fiction. She was a featured Rooted in Rights disability activist, and is the founder of Disabled Kidlit Writers (FB).
As an undergraduate, Lillie was a member of Yale’s Varsity Fencing team. As a senior, she was one of the first physically disabled athletes to individually qualify for any NCAA Championship event, and helped her team to an end-of-season 10th place ranking by the National Coaches Poll. She still fences competitively and coaches. In 2017, she was named a recipient of the inaugural Spirit of Sport award by the US Fencing Association.
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Hardcover Haven 