“I loved him at once. I would have changed my nature, I would have forsaken the star-tingle and the music of the Aurora; I would never have flown again---I would have given all that up in a moment, without a thought, to be a gyptian boat wife and cook for him and share his bed and bear his children. But you cannot change what you are, only what you do.“ - Serafina Pekkala

The Golden Compass, Part 3, 'Svalbard'

“We are all subject to the fates. But we must all act as if we are not,“ said the witch, “or die of despair.“

The Golden Compass, Part 3, 'Svalbard' Ch. 18 'Fog and Ice'

“...To be sure, there's a warm passion behind what you say. But if you give in to that passion, friends, you're a doing what I always warned you agin: you're a placing the satisfaction of your own feelings above the work you have to do.“

- Lord John Faa
The Golden Compass, ch. 8 'Frustration'

I know I've read this a few times over the last few years, but anticipating the final installment of Book of Dust in October has me frantically doing a re-read. I love discovering new things about these universes when I revisit. Well done and thank you, Philip.

While on holiday I am starting book #13 of Wheel of Time. Just one more after this! I have to say it has become a lot easier to read after Brandon Sanderson took over.

Fascinating to read the original fairy tales as gathered by the brothers Grimm. Their surname is an apt descriptor of many of the tales, such as “The Children Who Played At Slaughtering“. My goodness!

This has been on my “currently reading“ for such a long time that I'm starting over and determined to do it properly this time. Excited to learn about and contemplate the universe. 📷 Popsci.com

Sanderson takes over the #WheelofTime series in book 12. It's obnoxiously long, but then again, sometimes people's struggles are the same way. I found this much easier to engage with versus the final few volumes written before Robert Jordan's passing. Slightly less objectifying of the female body and stereotype than RJ, but still written in the same style. I didn't realize that the final three books were initially supposed to be one.

“William told me that the Helmsleys were evil. But in my experience, meeting people who feel like you do, it isn't evil I see. It's fear - fear of anyone who is like them - fear that the world's changing too fast - fear that their lives don't have any meaning, desperate for a scapegoat...but what always breaks my heart is that their capacity to see the humanity in other people, to see their souls, is so limited.“

- Father Brown ⬇️

Not only recounting an experience in Monowitz-Buna, a work camp in the Auschwitz complex, but an examination of the dehumanization that we are capable of...both from the peretrator and the victim.

“In every part of the world, wherever you begin by denying the fundamental liberties of mankind, and equality among people, you move towards the concentration-camp system, and it is a road on which it is difficult to halt.“ - Primo Levi

“Apparently some quirk of human nature allows even the most unspeakable acts of evil to become banal within minutes, provided only that they occur far enough away to pose no personal threat.“

It was true in the Japanese massacre of Nanking, it was true in the Jewish Holocaust, in the genocides in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Rwanda, in #Palestine, and so many others unnamed. Why are we like this?

To honor my #Chinese roots during this years' #SpringFestival, I read this very important and very sobering, devastating book. Although extremely well-written, it is a horrifyingly captivating and very challenging read to get through because of the atrocities that the Japanese performed against the Chinese in the 1930s and #WWIi and the subsequent coverups by the Japanese government through the present day. (Continued in comments) ⬇️

On #Holocaust Remembrance Day as well as the week that Lunar New Year begins, I am starting this very important book by Iris Chang which details the massacre of Nanking by Japanese forces during #WWII. Much less well-known than the genocide in Europe, but no less horrifying.

They are releasing Death Eaters now.

A fun, light, easy read. It took about a chapter to get into but then I rolled right along in the world. Very wholesome and kind. A wonderful choice from my kind benefactor of the #Christmas #holiday book exchange I did last year. Thank you!!

“Thimble appeared before they opened the doors, another list clutched in his paws. It wasn't particularly long.“ #firstlinefridays

High fantasy and low stakes indeed. Happy Friday everyone!

Here we go! #jolabokaflodswap read of 2024.
I don't know why the photo keeps turning 😭 I can't download the app on this phone so I have to use the browser and the interface is rather limited.

My first book for #2025 ended up being a thriller in ways that I didn't expect. I thought it would be a cut and dry murder mystery. Instead, it took me on a journey of self-examination and pondering of the ways we view #disability, religion, and ritual. Fascinating and well-done!
📷 Wikipedia

Happy new year to all the wonderful Littens out there! I'm starting to work through this “masterful excursion into terror“ to kick off 2025 as it needs to go back to the library in a couple weeks. I am also really looking forward to the next few books on my TBR list as well, including the delightful “Legends and Lattes“ that I received from my 2024 Jolabokaflodswap ... Very exciting! Hope everyone's new years are starting off full of hope and joy.

Happy #jolabokaflodswap and thank you so much to @Avanders for such a fun and lovely new adventure accompanied by some delicious chocolates! My post is a little late as my schedule has been derailed by the flu, but what a delight to receive this!! Thank you @maleficentbookdragon for hosting the swap!

Sending my #jolabokaflodswap ! Postman says estimated arrival by 19 Dec. at latest. @maleficentbookdragon

Exploring my paternal heritage in hopeful anticipation of a family trip next year.

This book was written for young people but adults need to read it too! A devastating and infuriating yet vitally informative book about Asian-American history. NOTHING I have read so far was taught to me during my colonial-centric American education, I only knew bits and pieces from family discussions. We need to do better. Maybe if there were more awareness of history, it wouldn't repeat itself so often.

A fun and quick read in preparation for “The Secret Commonwealth“. I'm anxious to get back into the series but debating pausing and waiting a bit so that I'll finish it closer to the release of the final Book of Dust installment. It helps bridge the gap as Lyra and Pan get older and develop before embarking on another endeavor to fight the corrupt powers that be. Strangely and sadly appropriate for today.

I enjoyed this! It was very entertaining and mostly light-hearted while still addressing important issues and conveying enlightening perspectives. I have a new affection and respect for Tom after reading this book. Thanks also for clarifying the relationship with Emma!! #harrypotter #mentalhealth

Being a few years removed from my own journey through the beginning of #recovery, reading her story was emotional and *nostalgic* at times. Her trigger warning is appropriate, not because of numbers or descriptions, but because of the emotions she is capable of evoking. Her writing is powerful, transparent, and her perspective on her experience in the Harry Potter films is very interesting, although a bit sad for her as well. #mentalhealth

I just got Serpentine by #PhilipPullman from the library today and tonight the Northern Lights are out dancing in my backyard. How serendipitous and how perfect to set the tone for my next adventure! ✨ #BookofDust #HisDarkMaterials

Another fun visit into the world of #HisDarkMaterials and #BookofDust with an interesting short story. In some ways I feel like this opens the opportunity to expand even more on the world and I'm not sure what will happen in the final installment of BoD. Also still waiting to see when BoD3 is going to be released! Next up in the canonical read-through, “Serpentine“, being delivered to my local library soon!

A fun short story revisiting the enthralling world of #HisDarkMaterials and #BookofDust. Helps bridge the gap between BoD#2. Next up, “The Collectors“ and then “Serpentine“ if I can find it.

A fun and quick read! An adventure in which you can think as much or as little as you'd like. I haven't read too many graphic novels so this was a new experience that I rather enjoyed. It feels much different than an illustrated book.

Oh my heart! It has been rended open with feeling. What a powerful series that can make a person of any age think again and evaluate the way they view life and the world, all in the guise of a grand, fantastical adventure. This is the end of the #HisDarkMaterials trilogy but worlds await in Pullman's companion books and the final two installments of #BookofDust !

The final installment of #HisDarkMaterials is more intense and thought-provoking than I remembered. Feels very emotional to revisit this world, the questions of my soul. Amazing that this all fits so well in a children's book!
📷AI

Such an intense book! As a child I did not appreciate it fully. But wow. Going to the library to get The Amber Spyglass ASAP! Pic isn't quite Alamo Gulch...but what a scene.

Side note, does anyone know if Litsy is still available on the Google Play store? I can't find it to put it on my new phone 😭

Excited for my first re-read of this book after watching the HBO series. Apparently Book of Dust #3 is finished and undergoing editing now! I'll probably take a break after this book to work on some of my other projects to draw out the canonical re-read process a bit, hoping to finish just before the release of BoD3.

#hisdarkmaterials #aurora

This is the book that makes me want to go to Svalbard and initially sparked my interest in Arctic exploration!

Bedtime reading. Pullman has hinted that he has an announcement coming soon which I'm hoping means there will be a release date for the conclusion of this trilogy! I hoped it would be this year so I'm rereading all the books in this world in canonical order at the moment. This is #2 in that sequence.

#hisdarkmaterials #alethiometer #truth #arctic

A fun little backstory on my favorite Texan, Arctic Hare, and armoured bear. I continue to be fascinated by Pullman's world and the adventures and conundrums in it.

#goldencompass #hisdarkmaterials #northernlights

High on my list is to revisit Pullman's world in chronological/canonical order. I'm really looking forward to it and anxiously awaiting the release of Book of Dust #3!!

Continuing the slog on a Saturday morning. Hoping it feels better soon!

"Surely you don't disbelieve the prophecies, because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself?" - Gandalf to Bilbo

I brought this with my on my recent trip to New Zealand and it was so much fun to read it while traipsing through Peter Jackson's reimagined Middle Earth. ❤️

I enjoyed this more as it went on. Will likely reread at some point, as there are always more things to discover in these epic fantasies. It's even inspired me to attempt Paolini's Fractalverse again, even though I abandoned his sci-fi early on in my first go at it. But I love worlds with dragons and all manner of creatures and "oh my" scenery. Hence a trip to New Zealand very soon as well!

After reading the Inheritance Cycle and The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm (again), I am now starting his newest book. I enjoy this world and re-living this adventure from time to time, I love the scenery he paints and the thought of being in this world of mountains, multiple races of sentient beings, and the escape from my professional life that this brings. Sometimes I don't know if I'd rather live in my world or another.

I've both read the book and climbed Kilimanjaro with the author. It's a very helpful read, and if you only read one book before going to Tanzania with the intent of climbing or going on a safari, this should be it. Very comprehensive with everything you need to do to prepare and pack. Additionally, it's the only guidebook written by an actual Tanzanian mountain guide rather than a westerner who doesn't even live there...

Although it's past Christmas-time, I have only just finished this book. It was such a lovely read, a fun story with sweet imagery and a very comforting feel. L Frank Baum has a way with prose that speaks to the longing we all have, somewhere, for the magic that is in the world if we can be pure at heart enough to see it.

A vivid portrayal of China from 1976-81:

"...Informative, disturbing, poignant and absorbing...personal encounters with individual Chinese that (were) almost unprecedented for any American journalist (at this time this book was written)." - NYT Book Review

Fascinating. I learned that I know less than I ever could have imagined.

I tried reading this when I was 8 years old. Now as an adult I'm hoping I understand it better. Just two paragraphs in and it already feels so much more relatable!

#adulting #mobydick #oceans #travel #escape #struggle

A fabulous and gripping account of one of the most prominent women cave divers. Her experience details overcoming adversity, pursuing excellence, achieving potential, and relates to every woman living in a world that does not cater to our progress. I find it incredibly refreshing and relatable to read writings of ♀️pioneers as I strive to live my most authentic and brave life. #adventure #brave #lady

As someone who is just getting into ultrarunning, I felt like this book was very comprehensive and a great educational tool to equip me for my first season of competition. It answered many questions I didn't know I had and was a terrific resource for me. I feel much better informed and prepared to race (at least...mentally) after reading this book. And apparently the second edition is 100+ pages longer. #ultrarunning #marathon

Only a few pages in but very intrigued, excited to go on an adventure, and ready to feel related to and and inspired!

#nature #water #adventure #natgeo

Definitely feeling very inspired to get out and enjoy nature regardless of the weather and climate and circumstances (although I'm more in favor of the cold than the super-hot). I'm excited to do friluftsliv everyday!

#friluftsliv #hygge #outdoors #nature #nordic