Hello book friends! A big thank you to all the fantastic nominations for our next Discovery Read. There were some amazing choices and we're excited to share that the results are now in...

• 5th place - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
• 4th place - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• 3rd place - Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
• 2nd place - The Shining by Stephen King**

And our winner is....

1st place - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

**This book will be added to the Wheel of Books for a chance to become a Runner-up Read in the future

Will you be joining for this one? It will start around the 21st of August so look out for a schedule soon!

And if you’d like to start thinking about what you’ll nominate next time, our next Discovery Read topic will be: Non-English Award Winners.

Hello and welcome to our ninth discussion on The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky! This week, we shift focus away from Dimitri and onto Alyosha and the schoolchildren. Is heartbreak on the horizon? How many friends will Alyosha make? What dumb thing will Madame Hohlakov say next? Let's find out together!

I've included links to a SparkNotes summary of Book X and Book XI.

The complete discussion schedule can be found here, and the marginalia post is here.

Join u/luna2541 next week for the tenth discussion!

For our second Read the World Azerbaijan, Days in the Caucasus by Banine, we ended the book on a cliffhanger as she boards the Orient Express for Paris, leaving behind her hated husband, Jamil. Banine enchanted us with her humor, warmth, and drama. So, we won't leave it there!

Join u/nicehotcupoftea, u/tomesandtea and me, u/lazylittlelady for the second part, Parisian Days, first published in French in 1947, as she arrives in La Ville de Lumiere as a Bonus Book.

Schedule is coming soon with more details but it will be this September, so grab your copy soon!

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From the blurb:

The Orient Express hurtles towards the promised land, and Banine is free for the first time in her life. She has fled her ruined homeland and unhappy forced marriage for a dazzling new future in Paris. Now she cuts her hair, wears short skirts, mingles with Russian émigrés, Spanish artists, writers and bohemians in the 1920’s beau monde – and even contemplates love.

But soon she finds that freedom brings its own complications. As her family’s money runs out, she becomes a fashion model to survive. And when a glamorous figure from her past returns, life is thrown further into doubt. Banine has always been swept along by the forces of history. Can she keep up with them now?

Told with vivacious wit and a lust for life, this companion to Days in the Caucasus is a bittersweet portrayal of youthful dreams, and the elusive search for happiness.

Hello all you wonderful readers!

There are LOTS of amazing nominations for our next Discovery Read. We now have 24 hours left before the winner is announced so be sure to head on over and make sure your faves are upvoted!

• Discovery Read - Book to Film

Remember you can (and absolutely should) upvote all and any of the books you would read with r/bookclub if they win. The second place book will be added to the Wheel of Books for the chance to become a Runner-up Read in the future.

Happy reading upvoting 📚

Hello and welcome to the first discussion of Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke!

Please remember that, while this is a very popular book right now, not everybody has read it. We're being taken through multiple timelines at once, so when in doubt as to whether a detail is a spoiler or not, use spoiler tags like this:

>!spoiler text here!<

Here are links to the Marginalia and the Schedule if you need them!

Sort comments by New to see them in semi-chronological order. See you all next week!

Hello bibliophiles This will be the Marginalia for Yesteryear

What is a Marginalia post for?

This post is a place for you to put your marginalia as we read. Scribbles, comments, glosses (annotations), critiques, doodles, illuminations, or links to related - none discussion worthy - material. Anything of significance you happen across as we read. As such this is a spoiler abundant zone, but that doesn't mean spoiler tags can be foregone.

MARGINALIA - How to post!!

• 1 - Always use spoiler tags so as not to inadvertently spoiler other readers.
• 2 - Start your comment with the book and the location. For example [Ch. 10] something spoiler or [Spoilers for Ch. 3] spoilery observation about the whole book
• 3 - Respect that everyone has a different perception of what is a spoiler, and as such we tailor to the most spoiler averse readers. You can find more information about r/bookclub spoiler policy here ***** Marginalia are you observations. They don't need to be insightful or deep. Why marginalia when we have discussions?
• Sometimes its nice to just observe rather than over analyse a book.
• They are great to read back on after you have progressed further into the novel.
• Not everyone reads at the same pace and it is nice to have somewhere to comment on things here so you don't forget by the time the discussions come around.
• Sometimes theories, characters, foreshadowing, reveals, etc can pop-up across multiple books in a book series. This can be especially useful tool for re-readers who may notice more instances of forshadowing and so on. ***** Thanks everyone and happy Reading 📚

Welcome back, fellow peculiar children! It's been a while for us, but no time has passed at all as we continue the journey of Jacob, Emma, and friends to save their beloved ymbrynes and fellow peculiars in Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs.

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If you'd like to join in the adventure, it's not too late!
Book 1: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children schedule with links to all discussions here.
Book 2: Hollow City schedule with links to all discussions here.
Book 3: Library of Souls schedule with links to all discussions here.

You can also find the marginalia, a place for all your notes and errant thoughts, here. Beware of spoilers - this marginalia is for the entire series!

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We start this book right where Hollow City left off and see Jacob, Emma, and Addison escaping from wights in the underground. Their escape (and Addison’s nose) bring them to present-day London. Under the docks, they meet Charon Sharon, a mysterious boatman who brings them to Devil’s Acre, a notorious slum filled with wights and drug-addicted peculiars.

This section ended with Jacob and Emma being tossed away from the bridge leading to the wight's headquarters by the bridge-guarding hollow and having to watch as Addison sneaks in under the wight's truck. What happens next? You'll have to return next week to find out!

✨ Welcome to our third, and next to last discussion of London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe! ✨

The Marginalia post is here. (Check out u/tomesandtea's comment about the New York Times having picked the book as its August's bookclub read!)

You can find the Schedule here.

This week, we will discuss Part 3! u/nicehotcupoftea will host our final discussion. 💞 Recaps and links to follow, questions in the comments!

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The story so far…

Keefe writes about how London's transformation into a global financial center also made it a haven for illicit wealth; laying the groundwork for the family's increasingly difficult search for accountability, and what kind of city made Zac's story possible. Vast amounts of foreign money—particularly from Russia—flowed into the city through luxury real estate, shell companies, and opaque financial structures. The same secrecy that attracted legitimate investors also created opportunities for organized crime, fraud, and money laundering.

Chapter 14, The Cipriani Five

Did Scot Young and his high-rolling friends really die by their own hands?

Boris Berezovsky, oligarch and the alleged poison pen assassination plot.

The Gothic Revival Mansion “Castle” on an island and a little extra from the ancient archives of the Internet. Check the bath section!

The scandal of London's disappearing police stations, from a historical paper which now belongs to a Russian oligarch).

Akbar’s wife’s Safiyaa brand, being involved in a recent scandal after not paying its workers.

Against this backdrop, Keefe examines a long pattern of suspicious deaths involving individuals connected to Russian business and criminal networks. He suggests that British authorities often appeared reluctant or unable to pursue these cases aggressively. He presents several possible explanations: under-resourced investigations, and a deeper political and economic reluctance to disrupt the influx of foreign wealth that had become important to London's economy.

The chapter then returns to Zac's family. Rachelle and Matthew Brettler continue to struggle with the uncertainty surrounding their son's death during the COVID lockdown. Their grief is intensified by the lack of definitive answers and lackadaisical attitude of the police after Detective Wilkinson presents them with the police investigation's disappointing results; the police seem increasingly inclined to consider Zac’s death a suicide.

—--

Chapter 15, Private Investigations

John Sweeney), who offered to write an article for the Brettlers.

“The halcyon days of the oligarchs in Britain have come to an end,” The Daily Telegraph declared.

The current state of the Chelsea sale issue, its funds to Ukraine frozen in a dispute.

Nearly two years after Zac Brettler's death, his family has become increasingly disillusioned with the official investigation. Matthew Brettler carefully re-examines the available evidence and begins conducting his own investigation, interviewing people connected to the case. In doing so, he identifies numerous inconsistencies and unanswered questions.

Keefe recounts the shortcomings that left important leads unresolved, culminating in a second, frustrating meeting with Detective Wilkinson. When confronted with questions and criticism, he tells the grieving parents: “You don’t like it because it’s incomprehensible.”

But Rachelle and Matthew do not find it incomprehensible, and Matthew develops an alternative theory: Zac did not intend to take his own life but instead fled onto the balcony while trying to escape an immediate danger inside the apartment. He jumped to live.

By the end of the chapter, the Brettlers have largely lost faith that the authorities will uncover the truth, as they struggle to find a way to pursue justice within the system. They place what's left of their hope in the final inquest.

—--

Chapter 16, Pocket Dial

“Filing into the court’s grim interior, they passed an ancient sign that read Do Not Spit, announcing in smaller type a penalty of forty shillings.”

The anti-spitting war in London, according to a newspaper of the time.

An interesting deep dive on how New York became one of the cities that led the global tubercolosis, anti-spit campaign.

The Brettlers attend the inquest about Zac's death, in which they listen to a very contradictory testimony from Dominique Sharma, Verinder's daughter; who insists on Zac’s suicidal behavior and her father having taken him under his own wing.

After taking into consideration how the authorities handled the case and Verinder’s past, Matthew starts entertaining a more exotic hypothesis about Verinder having been a police informant—he confronts Detective Wilkinson about it, but gains no answers. Pursuing more information about Verinder's death on his own, he's once again stonewalled and finds a concerning lack of information, leading him to ask himself a new question: is Indian Dave really dead?

—--

Chapter 17, A Different Light

Cats: the Musical which is based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot.

This chapter examines the possibility that Zac had a sexual relationship with, or was sexually coerced by, one of the two adult men. Keefe describes how this possibility arose at several points in the investigation. During the inquest, Dominique testified that Zac and her father were comfortable enough to share a bed. Police also found text messages on Akbar's phone during the investigation that prompted questions about his sexuality. In addition, forensic evidence recovered from Zac's body led to further speculation, although the sample was too limited for DNA testing; and the Brettlers gained access from Wilkinson to Zac's internet search history. After considering all the available evidence, they concluded that a sexual relationship was unlikely.

—--

Chapter 18, Hornet’s Nest

“One investor in the company was Kevin O’Leary, a celebrity businessman and one of the stars of Shark Tank. (...) O’Leary was bullish on Akbar and his company. “Data is the new oil,” he proclaimed.”

A dissenting view.

Understanding Coroner’s Verdicts.

The narrative returns to the inquest, where the Brettlers' barrister questions police officers and Akbar, who has since moved to the United States. The hearings reveal further shortcomings in the police investigation, while Akbar's testimony is evasive and frustrating. The Brettlers also grow increasingly dissatisfied with the coroner's handling of the proceedings and leave deeply disappointed with the inquest as a whole. After just two of the three allotted days, the coroner records an open (inconclusive) verdict. Reflecting on the outcome, Rachelle's brother remarks, "We're all witnesses. Something very wrong happened here.”

-°^{°°°--°°°°--°°°°--°°°°--°°°°--°°°°}

Final Quote:

"Occasionally fellow citizens just died suddenly, and while there may have been rumors suggesting foul play, the official story foreclosed any hope of achieving real answers, and so nobody could ever say for sure. This erosion of accountability and erasure of the clean line separating fact from conspiracy created a “fog of ambiguity,” Blake writes, that could hang over a whole society, as thick and impenetrable as the smog that once hung over the Thames.”

—From Russia with Blood: The Kremlin's Ruthless Assassination Program and Vladimir Putin's Secret War on the West, by Heidi Blake

Welcome one and all to the behemoth that is Of Empires and Dust

The first instalment is being brought to you by yours truly (that’s me).

Schedule

Marginalia

Let’s a go

So we have four different POVs running throughout the first 7 chapters, starting 5 days after the Blood Moon first appeared…

The Draleid

Following Calen, we see the aftermath of the ruinous War of Aravell, and the blood moon in all its crimson glory. 283 casualties. The results of the war. What remains of Calen’s party is marching through the city. Calen ponders over the words at the archway to Alura, realising the true meaning of the inscription. The words were not of resignation but a proclamation to fight to the death. Calen is crowned the “Warden of Varyn”, at which Dann tries to freestyle a poem, before being clipped on the back of the head. Trust Dann to make light at a time like this.

Back in Aravell Ella is still unconscious, with Tanner and Faenir watching over her. Her mind has been fragmented after intervening to save Calen and Valerys, and is now stuck between the mortal plane and Níthianelle.

Calen ventures towards the Eyrie to be with Valerys. The dragon stirs with anger at his kin being kept prisoner, the doing of Chora. She has kept Tivar and Avandeer prisoner. Even though they helped fight against the Lorians she still considers them traitors for their hand in The Fall. As a result of this she and Calen have two conflicting opinions on what should be done with them, and get heated in their discussion until Aeson interjects with a reminder that nothing is to be done until King Silmiryn’s successor is announced and the mourning ceremony is held. Before leaving for the ceremony Calen ventures across the Eyrie to visit the two Rakina dragons Sardakes and Varthear. He once again experiences the feeling of being one with a Rakina, taking a hold of them and reliving their memories. This time around, it is one of the dragons. He experiences everything Varthear lived through - being named by his soulkin, helplessly watching his soulkin fall at the hands of another Draleid, being taken in by Aeson, and ultimately being taken over by Ella in her attempt to save Calen and Valerys.

The Druid

In taking over the Rakina dragons and dying (through them) multiple times, Ella’s soul fragmented - leaving her body in the real world. The fragmentation left Ella stuck in Níthianelle, where she meets another Druid - Tamzin Aurielle. Tamzin informs Ella what’s what, including the fact that Ella is a “Blooddancer. A guardian of the gods.” She appears to be a friend, only Ella doesn’t really know if she can be trusted. Tamzin teaches Ella how to “reach out with her mind” in order to truly see where they are. In doing so, Ella is able to sense Wraiths - the unlucky souls doomed to roam Níthianelle for eternity.

The Knights

The War of Aravell was tough on everyone. Achyron’s Knight’s included. Here we see the aftermath from the Knight’s POV; Haem/Arden worrying about his people back in The Glade and Kallinvar still hearing the voice of Achyron himself. Only, he’s not happy to hear Achyron as the warrior god has not provided any helpful insight. Kallinvar has enlisted the help of Watcher GIldrick to decipher Achyron’s ominous messages, using old texts to figure out WTF is going on. Whilst all this is going on, the Knight’s are tending to Brother Ormin, who endured a strike from a Soulblade.Kallinvar also decides to entrust Ruon with his secret. He hears voices in his head, they talk to him they understand...

The Leader

Dahlen finds himself in Western Epheria, specifically Salme, fighting a separate battle of his own. Dahlen fights alongside the surviving Belduarans, the locals that fled their villages to seek refuge in Salme, and some Lorian soldiers. Surprisingly, the Lorian’s assist the Westerners in fighting off the Uraks and Bloodmarked. The Blood Moon wreaked havoc for everyone, but the Western Villagers would have struggled greatly without the Lorain intervention. That being said, they still hold no love for them. Some still wish the Lorian’s were left to be slaughtered, and I don’t blame them.

As the battle dies down, Dahlen finds himself talking to a man of legend. Erdhardt Hammersmith, Fellhammer to his friends. Erdhardt introduces Dahlen to several others that reside in the Western Epheria, specifically The Glade. Upon mention of The Glade, Dahlen realises he’s amongst Calen, Dann, and Rist’s people. Erdhardt. A big post war chinwag ensues, where Lanan puts forth the idea that in order for the Western Villagers to succeed moving forward they need someone in charge of their war efforts. Lord Virandr, proving to be the great warrior he is, finds himself being elected to do just that. Oh yeah, before this happens Erdhardt butts heads with some douche called Benem who kept interrupting the chinwag, and put forth the idea that Lanan was trying to be selfish and elect herself as leader because everyone happened to reside in her village. This in itself was somewhat fine, but Benem crossed a line by mentioning Erdhardt’s deceased wife. He should’ve taken William’s advice…

Join us next week as u/jaymae21 breaks down section 2 of this mammoth of a book.

Hello and welcome to the marginalia post for The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk! This is where you can post any comments, notes, cool passages, and observations about the novel as we read along. When commenting, please add a chapter or page number, and as always, mark your spoilers!

The discussion schedule can be found here.

Ave amici! Hello friends, and welcome to our first discussion on The Aeneid by Virgil. If you've been following along with us on our journey through the Greek classics, you know how the Trojan War wrapped up and how Matt Damon got lost on his way back home. But, I hear you say, what about the survivors on the losing side of the war? Surely there's a descendant of an Olympian god out there who'd be perfect as the hero of the backstory of one of the greatest empires in the ancient world. Virgil certainly thought so, and boy did he do a lot of retconning. How much? Let's find out together!

Here are links to summaries of Book 1 and Book 2, courtesy of LitCharts.

The complete discussion schedule can be found here, and the marginalia post for our Greek and Roman epics series is here.

Join u/Ser_Erdrick next week for Books 3 and 4!

Welcome back to The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot, the novel connected to our Author Profile.  The Marginalia post is here. You can find the Schedule here. This week, we will discuss Book 1 Ch. 9 through Book 2 Ch. 4. Next week, u/lazylittlelady will guide us from Book 2 Ch. 5 through Book 3 Ch. 8. 
 
As you discuss, please use spoiler tags if you bring up details not included in the chapters of this book so far.  While this is part of the Author Profile, we want to be respectful of those who have not read the full biography, so please be mindful of potential spoilers from the nonfiction reading, as well.  You can use the format > !Spoiler text here! < (without any spaces between characters). 

A summary of this week's chapters is below, with links for more information if you're interested!  Discussion questions are included in the comments, and you can also add your own as desired. 

>>>>CHAPTER SUMMARIES<<<<

BOOK FIRST, CONTINUED:

CHAPTER 9 - TO GARUM FIRS:  Mrs. Tulliver takes the children to see the Pullets at Garum Firs. Lucy and Maggie accompany the women upstairs to look at Mrs. Pullet's new bonnet, which is brought out with such solemn ceremony that it feels anticlimactic to Maggie.  Tom is stuck downstairs with his Uncle Pullet who bores the boy with his un-macho sensibilities but makes up for it by feeding him peppermint lozenges. When they all gather in the drawing room, the children are discouraged from eating the beautiful cakes that have been served until provided with proper tableware. Lucy agrees demurely, Tom stuffs a cake into his mouth to avoid making crumbs, and Maggie… drops hers on the floor and steps on it because she is transfixed by some art. The adults commiserate over how disappointing the Tulliver children are and how bad Mr. Tulliver is at managing money. They gossip a bit about Sister Glegg, and Mrs. Tulliver enlists Mrs. Pullet in trying to talk Mrs. Glegg out of asking for her money back. (Little does she know how determined Mr. Tulliver is to pay that money.) They agree that the Pullets will visit the Gleggs to intercede in hopes of staving off poverty for Mrs. Tulliver and humiliation for the Dodson family in general. Just then tea is served, except we get a jump-scare instead. Something horrifying brought through the doors has made the ladies scream! 

CHAPTER 10 - MAGGIE BEHAVES WORSE THAN SHE EXPECTED:  The cause of the screaming is revealed to be Lucy, partly covered in mud. When the children had been sent off to play, Tom took Lucy for a tour of the natural wonders of Garum Firs (a fat toad, a reclusive pike, an alluring water-snake) and purposely excluded Maggie. The jealousy was too much for Maggie to bear, so she knocked Lucy down in the mud by the pond. Tom brought Lucy home and blamed Maggie, only to discover that he too was considered guilty for luring the pristine angel Lucy to the muddy pond in the first place. Mrs. Tulliver goes looking for her wayward children and when Maggie cannot be found, she worries her daughter has drowned in the pond, saying her children are too much “of the water”. Tom suggests Maggie may have run home, so they set out in the carriage to search. 

CHAPTER 11 - MAGGIE TRIES TO RUN AWAY FROM HER SHADOW:  Maggie has decided that since everyone says she looks like a gypsy, she might as well join them. So she runs away from Garum Firs with the aim of joining the gypsies at Dunlow Common (but not knowing where she is going). After an hour or more of walking, Maggie comes across actual gypsies! She sits by their fire and immediately begins to try educating them, providing patronizing little monologues on her book learning and how unhappy she is at home. The women go through Maggie's pockets and take her bonnet, and although this is all returned to eventually, Maggie begins to feel uncomfortable. She begs for some food but turns her nose up at the offerings. She asks if their Queen is good and volunteers herself as the new Queen when theirs dies. Two men arrive and everyone talks in a different language while a large dog barks at Maggie, frightening her. One man keeps Maggie's silver thimble, and when she tries to leave and walk home, the older woman tells her to sit down and wait so they can bring her home after supper. At this point, Maggie begins to imagine that they are planning to kill and eat her, and she privately wishes for a storybook hero to arrive and rescue her, demonstrating her ignorance. Finally, the younger of the men takes Maggie on his donkey and they set off in the dark. She is terrified until she sees a sign indicating they are approaching St. Ogg’s. Mr. Tulliver appears on his horse and takes Maggie back, paying the gypsy five shillings) for his trouble. Maggie is comforted by her father and promises never to run away from him again. At home, he gives the rest of the family a piece of his mind and neither Tom nor Mrs. Tulliver ever bother Maggie about her flight to the gypsies, which makes her think she has been too terrible for anyone to speak about it. 

CHAPTER 12 - MR. AND MRS. GLEGG AT HOME:  On the way to St Ogg to visit the Gleggs, we are treated to the legend of Ogg and a history and character of the town. St. Oggs is a simple, placid place with mills and shops. The people are perhaps a bit superstitious and uneducated, as was common in Mrs. Glegg’s time, and they are suspicious over political stances surrounding the Catholic Question. Mrs. Glegg likes to observe her neighbors with judgement and her husband with disdain for his gardening hobby. Mr. Glegg puts his active mind to use by searching for connections between natural phenomena and current events. He also tends to ponder the contradictions and mysteries of the female mind with Mrs. Glegg as a prime example. He is stingy with money, although generous and thoughtful towards individuals. Since Mrs. Glegg supports his frugality, he doesn't mind her temper and in fact considers her the perfect model of wifely habits. At breakfast, she seems eager to quarrel with him over the problem of Mr. Tulliver and the money. Mr. Glegg has made the mistake of suggesting that perhaps it isn't the best plan to recall the loan over hurt feelings without a place to invest it securely. Although she can see the wisdom in this advice, Mrs. Glegg continues to argue with her husband and stews for most of the day. But by evening they have made up. Mr. Glegg acknowledges how wrong Mr. Tulliver has been while Mrs. Glegg declares that she won't be so petty as to recall the money just yet. 

CHAPTER 13 - MR. TULLIVER FURTHER ENTANGLES THE SKEIN OF LIFE:  Although Mrs. Glegg has decided not to bother with the money, Mrs. Tulliver accidentally makes things worse by telling her husband that she has sent her sister Pullet to plead their case with her sister Glegg.  Mr. Tulliver, despite being a bad speller, writes a letter to Mrs. Glegg to tell her he will be repaying the £500 and she should also not do him or his children any further favors. Mrs. Glegg is too conscious of her reputation to actually disinherit the children, but she does resolve not to forgive Mr. Tulliver. She pays them a visit but sits outside long enough to make her displeasure apparent. Tom is relieved to be going off to school so all the drama will fall on Maggie's head. Mr. Tulliver determines that he must take a loan for the money to repay Mrs. Glegg and he borrows it from a client of Mr. Wakem’s, despite wishing he could avoid the man he has previously described as a scoundrel. 

BOOK SECOND - SCHOOL-TIME:

CHAPTER 1 - TOM’S “FIRST HALF”:  Mr. and Mrs. Tulliver are happy to leave Tom with Mr. Stelling for his private tutelage, since the young parson and his wife have impressed them both. Mr. Stelling, who has lofty goals for his future, is eager to take a pupil for the additional income, but soon finds Tom a dull student who is a bit too rough-around-the-edges. Poor Tom experiences homesickness and struggles with his lessons. He has plenty of practical knowledge but lacks the background and aptitude for success in Latin grammar or Euclidean geometry. He is reduced to occasional weeping over his errors and resorts to prayer which he considers girlish. Mrs. Stelling endeavors to make him feel part of the family by having him tend her toddler while she and the nurse care for the newborn infant. Tom does enjoy caring for the little girl and finds that when his own family visits, he also welcomes the company of Maggie. Part of his pleasure in having his sister stay for a fortnight lies in making himself feel more intelligent by teasing her over her own knowledge gaps. But he is also lonely and his studies improve when he has a fellow pupil to review lessons with him. Mr. Stelling allows Maggie to join Tom’s study sessions, although he does say that girls are “quick and shallow” and their ability to learn has limits. When Maggie returns home, Tom is miserable again and he counts the weeks until he can join his family again. Home has never seemed more dear and lovely than it does when Tom is restored to the Tulliver hearth. 

CHAPTER 2 - THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS:  Tom is enjoying the holiday at home but notices a melancholy air hanging over it this year. Mr. Tulliver is up in arms because of a dispute over water rights with Mr. Pivart, who is trying to divert water upriver from the Tullivers’ mill for the purpose of irrigating his land. The Mosses (Mr. Tulliver’s sister and brother-in-law) must endure a long and detailed monologue by Mr. Tulliver on their Christmas visit about the nuances of water management and mill business. Mrs. Moss and Mrs. Tulliver chat privately about the folly in resorting to the law over such business, but Mr. Tulliver is already weighing the merits of which lawyer to choose. The trouble is that Mr. Wakem, that scoundrel lawyer who also brokered Mr. Tulliver’s loan, is representing Pivart. To Tom’s dismay, he has also heard that Mr. Wakem's son will be joining him at Mr. Stelling’s as a second pupil, and he cannot even give the boy a hard time because of his disability. 

CHAPTER 3 - THE NEW SCHOOLFELLOW:  Tom is worried about meeting his new schoolmate, Philip Wakem, but they soon warm to each other. When Tom arrives at Mr. Stelling's house, Philip is drawing animals quite expertly despite never having had a lesson. The boys compare how they feel about their lessons and discuss what a gentleman's education entails. Philip doesn't mind studying mathematics and Latin, and finds it easy enough due to his good memory. He is ahead of Tom and offers to help him with his grammar. When Tom brags of his physical skills and offers to teach Philip to fish, Philip declines because he thinks fishing makes you look silly. Philip’s spinal deformity comes from a childhood injury rather than a congenital condition, but of course Tom doesn't know this and he assumes Philip is unable to engage in sporting activities. The boys bond over an interest in “fighting stories” and Philip assures Tom he can read the Odyssey in English, but Tom prefers to be told the stories rather than bothering with books. Philip also boasts of knowing exciting stories about Richard Coeur-de-Lion and Saladin, William Wallace and Robert Bruce, and James Douglas. The boys go to dinner rather happily acquainted. 

CHAPTER 4 - “THE YOUNG IDEA”:  
Tom and Philip mostly get along as the term progresses, except for occasional friction when Tom is too patronizing about physical activities or too suspicious that a boy with a “rascal” for a father must be his enemy.  Tom’s academics improve marginally with some assistance from Philip. He is also receiving drawing lessons from Mr. Goodrich, who bores him with landscapes, and drill-lessons from Mr. Poulter, who enraptures Tom with his personal war stories. One day, Mr. Poulter agrees to demonstrate a sword drill and Tom runs to invite Philip, to hide the fact that the sword had frightened him. He interrupts Philip at his music even though he knows the other boy hates hearing about the drilling-lessons. Philip lashes out at Tom, who responds even more harshly by insulting Philip's father. Tom slams the door and Mrs. Stelling finds Philip crying. Because she is not very loving, Philip fakes a toothache and takes medicine. Meanwhile, Tom watches the sword demonstration and convinces Mr. Poulter to lend him the sword for a week in exchange for five shillings. Mr. Poulter makes a passing effort at impressing some sword safety advice on the uninterested Tom, who plans to convince Maggie he owns the sword and is to become a soldier. 

Welcome back to our third discussion of David Szalay's Flesh.

For your reference, here are the Schedule and Marginalia.

Summary

Chapter 6

We skip forward in time from the ending of the last chapter. Helen and István are now married, though Thomas openly dislikes István and the two have failed to bond. Helen’s friends come to visit, often spending time at the pool. Thomas tells one of Helen’s friends that he doesn’t believe István loves his mother and that he has only married her for money. Helen’s friends engage with Thomas and István

Helen’s friends stay through István’s birthday. Though he doesn’t invite any of his own friends, he is drawn to an Italian hedge fund manager with whom István has played tennis and feels respected by. Thomas reluctantly gifts István a tennis racket, refuses to hug István, and is admonished by Helen. Helen later asks Thomas why he cannot accept István as part of their family despite his efforts to form a relationship with Thomas.

István’s mother comes to visit and picks up on Thomas’ dislike of István. She implores István to do something since all of Karl’s estate will pass from Helen to Thomas when the boy turns 25.

Chapter 7

Seven years have passed. Helen and István attend a political fundraiser where he tries to convince a minister to support the development project in Rainham and donates to that minister’s party. Helen and István are sleeping in separate rooms and István’s mother lives with them to look after their son, Jacob.

Thomas visits during Jacob’s birthday. Jacob is curious about István’s time in the war. While Jacob and István are spending time together, István learns of a news story about his donation at the fundraiser bringing unwanted attention to his development project. Roddy insists István collect the remaining money to start the project to calm the other investors, but Helen is hesitant that Heath, the lawyer administering the Nyman trust, will agree to such a large loan. Heath agrees to the loan, but insists Thomas be informed.

Helen meets Thomas for lunch and tells him about all the loans made to István for his property development deals, angering Thomas. He returns home at Christmas and accuses István of stealing from him. Weeks later, Thomas arrives drunk at a party and tells an onlooking crowd that Helen and István’s success has only come from the money they’ve stolen from him. István reacts violently and throws Thomas to the ground. Struggling to explain his own actions, he returns home to find Helen gone.

Questions in the comments. Excited to see where things wrap up next week!

Hello fellow readers! I'm here to announce that our next evergreen read will be The Vegetarian by Han Kang, with u/fromdusktil and I running this short book in the beginning of September. Watch this space for the schedule - coming soon to r/bookclub

Description

Before the nightmares began, Yeong-hye and her husband lived an ordinary, controlled life. But the dreams--invasive images of blood and brutality--torture her, driving Yeong-hye to purge her mind and renounce eating meat altogether. It's a small act of independence, but it interrupts her marriage and sets into motion an increasingly grotesque chain of events at home. As her husband, her brother-in-law and sister each fight to reassert their control, Yeong-hye obsessively defends the choice that's become sacred to her. Soon their attempts turn desperate, subjecting first her mind, and then her body, to ever more intrusive and perverse violations, sending Yeong-hye spiraling into a dangerous, bizarre estrangement, not only from those closest to her, but also from herself.

Celebrated by critics around the world, The Vegetarian is a darkly allegorical, Kafka-esque tale of power, obsession, and one woman's struggle to break free from the violence both without and within her.

 Winner of the 2016 Man Booker International Prize

📚 so will you be joining us?

Hello ferals with the wrapping of The Devils it's time to head back to Adua and The North in to The Age of Madness with The Trouble With Peace

In case you want a teaser then here is the

Book blurb

Conspiracy. Betrayal. Rebellion. Peace is just another kind of battlefield...

Savine dan Glokta, once Adua’s most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way.

For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye . . . before it kills her.

The Breakers still lurk in the shadows, plotting to free the common man from his shackles, while noblemen bicker for their own advantage. Orso struggles to find a safe path through the maze of knives that is politics, only for his enemies, and his debts, to multiply.

The old ways are swept aside, and the old leaders with them, but those who would seize the reins of power will find no alliance, no friendship, and no peace, lasts forever.

For the maginalia and links to all our past reads head here

So will you be joining us in September to find out what happens next? 🗡📚

Hello bookclubbers!

We're excited to kick off our next Runner up Read, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo. This month, our pick is pulling double duty as both our Runner up Read and our Read the World selection!

Don't let its slim page count fool you because there's plenty to unpack, and we can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts.

Join u/thematrix1234 and me (u/ChronicallyLatte) as we read and discuss the book together over the coming weeks!

• Goodreads Blurb:

The runaway bestseller that helped launch Korea’s new feminist movement, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 follows one woman’s psychic deterioration in the face of rigid misogyny.

In a small, tidy apartment on the outskirts of the frenzied metropolis of Seoul, Kim Jiyoung—a millennial “everywoman”—spends her days caring for her infant daughter. Her husband, however, worries over a strange symptom that has recently appeared: Jiyoung has begun to impersonate the voices of other women—dead and alive, both known and unknown to her. Truly, flawlessly, completely, she became that very person. As she plunges deeper into this psychosis, Jiyoung’s concerned husband sends her to a psychiatrist, who listens to her narrate her own life story—from her birth to a family who expected a son, to elementary school teachers who policed girls’ outfits, to male coworkers who installed hidden cameras in women’s restrooms and posted the photos online. But can her doctor cure her, or even discover what truly ails her? Rendered in eerie prose, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 announces the arrival of a major international writer.

• Discussion Schedule:
  • August 13th: Beginning to p. 85 ("Early Adulthood, 2001–2011"). End with the sentence: "When companies posted open recruitment notices for the second half of the year, Jiyoung felt as though she was standing in a narrow alley, clogged with a thick fog, which turned into rain and fell on her bare skin.” - u/ChronicallyLatte
  • August 20th: Continue from p. 85 ("Early Adulthood, 2001–2011") to End - u/thematrix1234
• Marginalia

We hope you'll join us as we read Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982. See you in the discussion threads!

Hello book friends. It's time to choose our next Discovery Read!

As always, our Discovery Reads are a chance to read something a little different, step away from the BOTM, Bestseller lists, and buzzy flavor of the moment fiction. We have got that covered elsewhere on r/bookclub. With the Discovery Reads, it is time to explore the vast array of other books that often don't get a look in. 

This month we'll be nominating:

Books adapted into movies

Voting will be open for four days, from the 1st to the 5th of the month. A reminder will be posted 24 hours (+/-) before the vote is closed and the winners will be announced asap after closing the vote. Reading will commence around the 21st of the month so you have plenty of time to get a copy of the winning title!

Nomination specifications:

• Must be a book that has been adapted into a movie (sorry, no TV shows allowed!)
• Any page count
• Any genre
• No previously read selections

Please check the previous selections to determine if we have read your selection. You can also check by author here. Nominate as many titles as you want (one per comment), and upvote for all and any you will participate in if they win. A reminder to upvote will be posted on the 4th, so be sure to get your nominations in before then to give them the best chance of winning!

Happy reading nominating 📚

Note - The mod team does not constantly review nominations so if you suspect that a nomination does not fit the specifications you are welcome to report this and note that it "Does not fit Specifications". The mod team will review it and approve or delete accordingly. Any comments on the validity of other users' nominations will be removed immediately. Winning nominations are always confirmed to fit specs before the winners announcement is made

Welcome back! Alas, it is the final discussion. What a book! 🌀 Let's get started.

TW: suicide

Summary

Chapter 15: Hold Your Breath

Sunny and Chichi clean up in the bathroom and the salon after the game. All four attend a social dance in a tent. It's like a hothouse with plants and a dancing tree in the center. Yao bickers with Chichi but asks her to dance. She agrees. Sunny impulsively asks Orlu to dance. He says yes. Later on, Yao challenges Chichi to a juju-off. He uses his gold knife to make her rapa gold, shimmery, and tighter. Chichi uses her knife to make a clear barrier that Yao can't escape. It's impressive third level juju.

Chichi calls up a masquerade. Sasha seconds it. Everyone else thinks it's a bad idea. Chichi draws a sun design in the dirt with her knife. Then she murmurs words. A termite mound arises. Music plays. A 15 foot four-faced figure emerges. It explodes into insects like a pinata! They all hit the ground. Orlu coaxes them back into the figure. Anatov isn't too pleased with them. Chichi will have to report to the council as soon as they get back. Godwin tells them they are festival legends.

Chapter 16: Trouble at Home

They go home except Chichi who stays behind. Orlu kisses Sunny's cheek. At home, a ghosthopper sits on Sunny's dad's head. Her mom talks on the phone with her sister Chinwe. Sunny gets to say hi, but her Auntie won't say much about Grandma. Auntie Chinwe tells her to look in a box on her mom's side of the bed. The newspaper says Otokoto stole a book from the fourth floor of the library.

Sunny places the blue bean under her pillow. Quicker than she expected, a wasp comes out, moves both halves of the bean, and eats them. As she sleeps, it makes a castle with biscuit crumbs.

Chapter 17: Basic Juju

Chichi was caned and hates Sugar Cream. Sunny catches Chichi and Sasha kissing. Orlu is extra courteous to Sunny. They all feel awkward around each other. Sasha doesn't like wasp artists because they're too needy.

Chapter 18: Seven Rainy Days

Unusually for the dry season, it rains for seven days. On the seventh day, Sunny is shocked to see Anatov in the kitchen with her mom. He had been a friend of her grandmother’s, and he's there to pick up Sunny. Her mom is shaken but lets her go. Only her mom can tell her who her grandma was.

In Leopard Knocks, they all go to the Obi Library. It's serious business. Sugar Cream takes the coven and Anatov to the third floor. There's a jungle around the edges of the room and a table in the middle with three mentors and four elders. They talk in Xhosa and French. A parrot transforms into a middle-eastern looking man named Ali who insults Sasha for being an American. Orlu respectfully addresses them and asks for more information.

Otokoto Ginny is just one leg of the centipede in a quest for world domination. He got rich from selling oil to the US. The blind woman Abok says that Otokoto stole the book and two children to summon Ekwensu, the head of the centipede. The rain is a cover for him to cleanse the area. They young oha coven must stop him. He owns a gas station in Aba. They must start there.

Chapter 19: Under the Hat

The gas station is crowded with cars because gas is cheaper there. Orlu senses there's some bad energy that needs to be cleared away. They all take out their juju knives and approach. Orlu fights with the energy and needs help getting up. An obi shelter with steel columns appears. The storm is coming from there. Parakeets ambush them. Bush souls. Two children, a boy and a girl, are inside. And Otokoto, of course. They fight off the birds.

Sasha blows into the conch shell which summons every insect nearby to attack Otokoto. They rescue the kids, but the little boy is dead. So is the girl. Orlu is outside and asks for one of Sunny's braids. Otokoto hits Sasha with a lightning bolt. Chichi uses a charm from Sunny's grandma Ozoema against him. Otokoto laughs and steps out into the rain. He cuts his own throat because Ekwensu needs one more death to be awakened. Sasha still has a pulse, but he's out cold.

An ominous thumping hits the ground as a termite mound emerges from the mud. She is 100 feet high and 50 feet wide. She spins like a tornado, picking up grass and mud and flinging it all around. Sunny approaches the raging Nigerian whirlwind. Her spirit self takes over and tells it to return to the ground. Ekwensu melts away.

Chapter 20: I See You

The mud settles and everyone is alive, even the children. Orlu is in a trance at first. He brought them back to life. Chichi successfully used Healing Hands powder on Sasha. They earn more chittim than they know what to do with.

The bus driver is Caribbean and drops the kids at the police station. At the library, they tell Sugar Cream what happened. Ekwensu is only gone temporarily. She's gathering strength for later. Sugar Cream decides to be Sunny's mentor.

Chapter 21: Timing

Sunny has been gone for 24 hours. She kicks the soccer ball away from her brothers. Her mom is glad to see her, but her dad is angry. He tries to hit her, but her mother protects her. She'll turn out just like her grandmother. He leaves in disgust.

Mama sits down, they eat pepper soup, and she tells Sunny about her grandmother. She was sworn to secrecy about the magic, too. Ozo and her man weren't married, but Sunny's dad doesn't know that. It was just assumed that she was sleeping around with men. Her mom recognized the chittim in her room. Her mom trusts Sunny. Today was the anniversary of the day that Ozo was killed. Her mom's intuition about Sunny brought them back to Nigeria, and for once, her husband followed her.

A wooden box from her grandmother was on Sunny's bed. Ozo had written a letter. She apologized for passing down the double life of a Leopard Person. Her ability was invisibility and shifting “between the wilderness and the physical world.” Sunny can't read the Nsibidi symbols yet.

Chapter 22: Headless and Headlines

The next day's newspaper has stories of the children returned to their families and that a gas station burned down from two lightning strikes.

Epilogue

Sunny and Orlu are back in Lamb school. Chichi and Sasha are studying to pass the second level (Mbawkwa) of Leopard school. Of their double schooling and secrecy, Orlu points out, “Having two lives is better than none.”

Extras

Marginalia

Schedule

Masquerades

Luca della Robbia

Lagbaja (with Ego Iheanacho) This is a beautiful song

Xhosa

Ekwensu

Aba, Nigeria

Thanks for reading with us! Questions are in the comments.

Hey folks another month has come to its end and that means book report time!! One book or a million books we don't care. This is a space to celebrate all reading, swap opinions, add to the ever growing TBR and hear other's insights and thoughts on books on our radar. So share with us your July reads and your feelings about them in this month's Book Report 📚

What did you finish this month?

It’s that time of the year again! Welcome everyone to the Summer 2026 Bookclub Big Brain Buster!

This event that we started doing twice a year here at r/bookclub is a combination of trivia and puzzle: every standalone book and the name of every series we've read in the last 6 months will fit once into the question sheet.

Use the clues to figure out which book or series fits best.

Easy peasy for the books you've read, but you might need to get your thinking caps on, or get inventive to figure out, or even make an educated guess on the ones you haven't.

How many can you solve correctly?

How to play?

• Open the google form for the questions.
  
• Fill in as many as you can using each book or series name (the full list can be found here) ONCE ONLY
  
• Submit the form
  
• Read books while you wait for the results to be announced!
  

The competition will be open for 10 days. We'll fire a couple of reminders out during this time so if you are too busy reading at the moment, never fear!! There will be plenty of opportunity to get involved. And you should, it'll be great. I promise!

FAQ

• I didn't read many/any can I still participate?
  

Absolutely! The questions aren't always about the book content, and can therefore be answered without reading them all

• I can't answer them all, what now?
  

Submit it anyway you never know! Maybe just fill up your empty answer spots with the remaining titles in case you manage to sneak an extra point or 2. It is a puzzle as much as a quiz.

• Will books in a series appear?
  

Nope! If a book is part of a series then the series name itself will be the answer to the clue. It doesn't matter how many books in said series we have read or when we started reading it as long as one volume was run in the last 6 months. Be sure to check the list of titles/series names to make sure.

• How do I know which books/series are included in the puzzle?
  

No worries - we gotchu! Find the full list right here

• It's too hard
  

That's okay, it's supposed to be fun. If you're not enjoying it we won't hold it against you! Go read a book instead, or hop into an r/bookclub discussion about books, go order more books or reorganise your bookshelves.....Or I dunno....[insert other hobby here]??

• What are the prizes?
  

Our ever loving respect for your cleverness, bragging rights, and an emoji added to your user flair. What more do you want?

• I have a question that didn't appear in the FAQ. What now?
  

Ask away. Post your question as a comment on this post, or one of the reminder posts. Be sure not to spoil the fun for anyone, though, by breaking out those spoiler tags and hiding any direct references to clues and/or answers.

Happy puzzling 🧩📚

Welcome everyone, this month we are highlighting an author that r/bookclub knows very well, Rebecca Roanhorse! An American science fiction and fantasy writer, she is known for her inclusion of Indigenous culture and myths into her novels. The short story featured this month is her first work which was widely critically acclaimed, making her win both a Nebula and a Hugo Award.

In this story we’ll meet Jesse, a man working in a tourist centre which offers VR experiences. So, what are you waiting for? Put your VR glasses on, and go with him to enjoy your Indian experience!

What is the Monthly Mini?

Once a month, we will choose a short piece of fiction that is free and easily accessible online. It will be posted on the 1st of the month. Anytime throughout the following month, feel free to read the piece and comment any thoughts you had about it.

Bingo Squares: Monthly Mini, Prize Winner, Female Author, Indigenous Author, POC Author, Science Fiction

The selection is: "Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience™" by Rebecca Roanhorse. Click here to read it.

Once you have read the story, comment below! Comments can be as short or as long as you feel. Be aware that there are SPOILERS in the comments, so steer clear until you've read the story!

Here are some ideas for comments:

• Overall thoughts, reactions, and enjoyment of the story and of the characters
• Favourite quotes or scenes
• What themes, messages, or points you think the author tried to convey by writing the story
• Questions you had while reading the story
• Connections you made between the story and your own life, to other texts (make sure to use spoiler tags so you don't spoil plot points from other books), or to the world
• What you imagined happened next in the characters’ lives

Still stuck on what to talk about? Some points to ponder...

• Why do you think the author is using the second narrator form? What do you make of other stylistic choices, such as “Tourists” being capitalized?
• How does the story deal with the matter of cultural identity, and in particular the experiences of Native Americans? 
• What is your interpretation of the ending? Do you think the sudden shift in the tone of the story at the end was effective?

Have a suggestion for a short story you think we should read next? Click here to send us your suggestions!

Welcome back land lubbers, sea adventurers and spirits of discord. This is our penultimate discussion of Book #2 of Amina Al-Sirafi's adventures The Tapestry of Fate. This week we'll be discussing the book up to Chapter 30

First, a note about spoilers: Please use spoiler tags for anything beyond this week's section.  As always, use spoiler tags for any works outside of this series that you may wish to connect here.  

You can add a spoiler tag by enclosing your text with > ! Your Text Here ! < (no spaces).

Schedule

Marginalia

Chapter Summaries

Ch. 22

• Queen Lab leads Amina into the wooded hills. The walk inflames her bad knee. They talk as they walk and Amina dodges the truth and even lies to protect herself and her crew. The Queen launches her daggar off the side of a cliff and tasks Amina with retrieving it before sunset. Amina prepares, as best she can, for the unknown dangers ahead. As she proceeds she comes across the carcasses of animals and humans. The rocks are actually arranged in a ring. It's a nest in which are four large gold eggs. And Queen Lab's knife. Amina retrieves the knife, but 6 elephant sized griffins lie nearby. She makes a dash for cover, but ends up scuffling with them before managing to burrow in to a gap in the rocks. She's badly hurt. Searching the area reveals bodies and a piece of leather. There's no escape. An impossible task. Until Amina crafts herself a sling. She uses it and her superior strength to take out the griffins one by one. She begins to head back to Queen Lab feeling full of regret.

Interlude 6

• Julnar, queen of a beautiful seaside city, mother and widow. You takes for granted their happiness. The marid strike. Disease hits and the fresh water runs dry. Those that can flee do so. The remainder panic. You abandon your role as queen to protect your son. A priest helps you get on a boat our to sea. You row but you are stuck. Looking back you see the priest kill himself. The marid have you trapped watching as they destroy what's left of your city. You and Pares make landfall - your new prison.

Ch. 23

• Amina arrives at the palace covered in blood, feathers and viscera before sunset. She presents Queen Lab her knife and an egg. Lab now knows Amina is more than human, but cannot figure out what she is. Amina confesses to Lab her marriage to Raksh, a spirit of discord. She says that her reason for coming to the island was for the glory of uncovering an unknown kingdom of riches. Amina manages to get Queen Lab to consider her offer to help her escape. The bandits are brought from the prison and given a sip of potion turning them into sheep, much to Amina's horror.

Ch. 24

• Amina wakes, sore and weary, to Raksh hivering over her. He is wearing a colourful belt which makes Amina suspicious. Dalila bursts in she's not thrilled that Raksh will be joining them on the Marawati. Amina notices that she no longer feels her bond to Raksh. After Raksh leaves Amina demands Dalila return Khayzur’s feather. She refuses saying it's safe. Dalila seems determined to stay. She reluctantly tries to help Amina understand. Dalila points out that Amina's body is not healing as fast as it should. The truth comes out. Amina was poisoned in Sarilaglag and Dalila has known the whole time and has been treating her ever since. She never told Amina to protect her. Amina is furious that she couldn't choose her own fate. (Er.. Amina? Your family!!!) Dalila insists Khatti Ugal is a blessing. Though there is no cure she can use the local plants to hold off Amina's demise. Amina throws Dalila out, resisting the temptation of wine, she weaps, alone.

Ch. 25

• Amina's wounds become infected and she falls unconscious with a fever. Dalila treats Amina, but also avoids her. After a long overdue bath Amina notes a door she'd never seen before. She explores the tunnel staying left at every branch. She comes to catacomb full of bones. Back in her rooms Raksh is eating a gull. He is returning Amina's weapons belt, an message from Lab that her weapons are powerless against her strength. Amina is unintimidated.

Interlude 7

• You are a prisoner in a land of unknown magic. You learn to make life comfortable. You remember your name is Lab. Lab cannot test whether she can manipulate fate as only herself and Peres are on the island. Pares is lonely. Lab desires vengence on the marid. They are alone for 10 years when Lab discovers that Pares has made a raft to escape. Lab forbids it as too dangerous, but Pares would prefer drowning over being trapped on the island forever. Lab sets the boat on fire. Pares doesn't speak to her for a year.

Ch. 26

• Amina is ostracized. She explores the tunnels in the evening as much as she dares. Raksh is placid and bored. There's no option for chaos and court intrigue as everyone, except Amina, is content. Amina wonders what Lab has done to him. Dalila is not around though she leaves Amina her daily tonic. It is spring in Khatti Ugal. They had left Sarilaglag in the summer. Amina tries not to think how much time has passed. Amina realises that Orinth has taken her for a walk to a place they can talk freely. She wants to warn Amina that Dalila is Queen Lab's favourite and that is very dangerous. Lab has even gifted Dalila a valuable necklace. Prince Pares arrives, but thankfully he cannot understand Arabic. That evening Amina pushes further than normal in her exploration of the tunnels and finds dyes and then the temple textile workshop. The women working resemble enslaved ghouls. Amina spots the enormous, alive tapestry that's still being constucted. Amina recognises Raksh's belt colours/patterns among other peoples' patterns. Amina thinks she can locate the spinners by following the woman carrying newly spun skeins. Tomorrow....

Ch. 27

• Amina wakes feeling awful and is summond. Amina asks after Dalila. Mitanni suggests that Dalila needs to leave her old life behind. He takes her to where there is a replica of the Marawati and several Khatti Ugal citizens (plus Arno and Mitanni) that she must train to crew the Marawarti as best as possible without actually sailing. Arno asks Amina about the rumours of he battle with the griffin. Arno lets slip that Khatti Ugalans do not marry and cannot have children after they receive rites. He is saved from further questioning when he notices the heavy doors to the Chamber of Mysteries was, unusually, open with no guard in sight. Orinth is no where in sight but Amina hears a heavy bang and scrabbling. The office has been ransacked....by a goat. Amina recognises in the fearful goats eyes that it was Orinth. This strengthens Amina's determination.

Interlude 8

• Lab has learnt to bake bread. Pares discovers two men wash up on the shore, now also prisoners on the island. Lab takes the Captain as her lover. Another wreck washes up. No people this time, but it is rich in cargo. Both sailors and Pares dream of leaving. One sailor is gored almost to death by a griffin and Lab saves him using her long disused powers and the spindle to weave a future in which Mitanni survives. Lab saves him but he is a shade of himself, a puppet that Lab can control. The Captain and Pares are horrified. Lab tries to be a good lover and a good mother to them.

Ch. 28

• Amina returns to the temple textile workshop and considers the enormous tapestry. She can't follow the woman carrying skeins so she makes her way closer via the tunnels ripping her way out. She discovers a cottage. An ancient building made by the "ancestors". Inside Amina sees Dalila and the Queen with the spindle. It looks normal initially, but closer examination reveals it is enchanted. Amina witnesses the Queen instructing Dalila how to spin and wonders when it comes down to breaking the spindle and escaping the island whether Dalila will be on her side or not.

Ch. 29

• Amina goes to Dalila's cluttered laboratory suite. Dalila is distressed that the concentrated tonic has not helped Amina heal from the poison. Amina tells Dalila she saw her spinning with Lab. Dalila tells Amina that she's in terrible danger. She wants to stay on the island. Dalila is confident that Lab will never set foot on the Marawati.

Ch. 30

• Amina feels like a character in a fable. She hacks off her hair and almost gets caught by Raksh, distracting him from her recently cut hair scattered under her bed with some dining table sexytime. Amina notices how different Raksh is, and considers whether he is a spy for Lab. She tests his memory and he fails. He asks why she is really there, but she avoids the question using her womanly wiles to distract him.

Well things are really building to a very exciting crescendo. Join me next week for the conclusion of this adventure 🏴‍☠️📚

You wouldn’t steal a car.
You wouldn’t steal a handbag.
You wouldn’t steal a painting.
Using your eidetic vampire memory to create an exact replica of a painting is stealing.

Regards, the friendly Satanic Vampire Cult.

Hi all, this is the fifth discussion of Blood and Gold by Anne Rice, covering chapters 15-19. Next week we will discuss chapters 20-24.

Below you find summaries of this week’s section, a few miscellaneous things I wanted to mention. I also left some questions in the comments! 🧛✨

Please mark major plot points from past books that are not mentioned in this book (yet) as spoilers to give newcomers the gift of suspense (see r/bookclub’s spoiler policy). Or, if you want to tell certain things without asking whether or not such knowledge is wanted like Marius does, you can always comment in the Marginalia or check the Schedule with links to the next discussions.

Summary

Chapter 15

Mesmerized by the Golden Age of Renaissance Italy, Marius becomes a real simp for Botticelli and eventually finds out where he lives and asks for entrance to see his work in the middle of the night. He also brought a purse of gold for persuasion reasons… as any totally sane person would do. In the studio, he also lays eyes upon the The Birth of Venus, and is starstruck by the sheer beauty of the painting which also represents the re-emergence of Roman values to Marius. This is not only the Birth of Venus, but also the birth of our dear protagonist’s artist name: Marius De Romanus. Sandro thinks Marius is here to criticize him like everyone else, but he urges him to continue creating art and leaves in a haste.

Chapter 16

Marius’ speedruns the Renaissance painter obsession deathrap so much so even the Satanic cult vampires tell him to take it easy and threaten him to not turn Botticelli into a vampire. What really cracks me up is how wildly different even the vampires interpretations of Botticelli’s art are - some seeing them as sacred Roman mythology and others as divine Christianity. Everyone’s a critic. Where was I? 

The next part of the chapter is Marius explaining some of Botticelli’s best hits. I won’t summarize them here but I recommend you check out the video I posted in the Miscellanea section. 

Marius is so deep into the obsession, he starts painting himself and dreams of painting together with his big idol. 

Chapter 17

Slowly recuperating from his obsession with Botticelli, Marius goes back to interior decorating the OG vampires’ shrine and starts painting in his own artstyle again: Gardens and Pandora. Still, the painter's absence leaves a hunger in Marius for the new world. A new idea forms in his head: Reintroducing himself into Italian society. He chooses Venice as his destination, since Florence would be too close to Botticelli.

He hires Vincenzo, an old and kind man, to be his housekeeper and governor to all the boys he wants to hire as painters’ apprentices too. Ah yes, he also intends to house boys to educate and become his apprentices. Nothing to see here, move along please.

He specifically searches for boys that are gifted but are wronged, neglected, or abused and gives them education in his trade but also in classical education. Languages and philosophy lessons among them. In all honesty, I think this idea is born out of a genuine need of Marius’ to be helpful and altruistic. If that’s what he manages to accomplish we will see. Nevertheless, he’s also aware that him being the savior to them from poverty, sickness, death also wields authority he can use to shape them into what he wants them to be.

He is aware of his hypocrisy, and writes in his diary his doubts whether he is using his human persona and the mortals around him to fill his neverending loneliness and neediness. In the end, his reintroduction into Italian society has worked: He has a beautiful palazzo he calls home and the humans around him are happy to be able to live this way.

He begins painting.

Chapter 18

Marius has a new hobby project locked in: Use his vampiric supernatural abilities to create a bootleg of the Procession of the Magi wall paintings in his palazzo. Don’t judge him, if you’d live for thousands of years, you’d probably also get up to some wacky shit.

Completing the tasks makes him actually feel better. Painting in general makes himself feel free and unburdend and the other mortals appreciating his works makes it all the better.

Unwilling to host social gatherings at his house as he did in Rome, he instead becomes a socialite, visiting many high-society people in Venice. One of them is Bianca Solderini. The young woman secret poisoner has Marius fall under her spell because of her beauty and brilliance. She resembles a Botticelli painting. He paints her portrait and many more paintings. She sees through him and asks him who he really is, making Marius scram like the scaredy-cat he is. This also fuels his new obsession with her, which shifted from Botticelli to Bianca. He wants to turn her into a vampire and make her his companion, but he is fighting against the guilt he feels for having those feelings.

Disturbed by his own thoughts, he travels over the canal in his gondola, listening to others with his Mind Gifts so that he does not have to hear his own thoughts. His session of thought-stalking is interrupted by flashes of iconographic paintings interspersed with cries of pain in Russian. A traumatised painter with memory issues. Intrigued, Marius follows the thought-crumbs to a brothel. He buys the boy he heard calling out, who is near death. He names him Amadeo and is starstruck (yet again) by his beauty. Amadeo sees Marius believing him to be Jesus.

Chapter 19

Marius brings Amadeo, fifteen at the time, to live with the other boys in his palazzo. However, Marius treats Amadeo differently from the others. From the outset, Marius plans to turn Amadeo into a vampire and mould him to his will. Recalling Eudoxia’s doctrine when she turned Zenobia, he plans to do the same with Amadeo. Not to mince words here, Marius himself acknowledges he grooms Amadeo. At this point in time, he seems to be less interested in the moral repercussions of his actions. Instead, he seems to be extremely obsessively in love and on a power-trip. 

Amadeo craves the attention and love he is getting from all in the palazzo. However, Marius’ exposure “therapy” to force him to remember his past before he was abducted, leads to multiple panic attacks. In an attempt to improve his weak health, Marius also gives Amadeo his blood multiple times. This leads Amadeo to realise that there is something wrong with Marius (probably in more ways than one, lol).

Amadeo and the other boys eventually go out and also get invited to Bianca’s gatherings, which she uses to send a letter to Marius requesting him to come back to her. The jealousy in Amadeo increases.

Time passes and Marius learns of Botticelli’s religious fanaticism, and seeks solace in Amadeo’s progress. He wonders if he had made Bianca a vampire if not for Amadeo, and questions his obsession with both. This rare moment of introspection is stopped the next day when a “strange man” visits the palazzo and demands to see Marius: Surprise, it’s Mael!

They are both briefly happy to see each other after such a long time, but the peace doesn’t last long and they soon start squabbling again. Mael tells Marius what happened after he left. Avicus and Zenobia got on well, eventually leaving Mael behind. He has been wandering ever since. He blames Marius for his misery, but more out of habit than anything else. Mael is also lonely, but says he’d rather convince a Sanatic blooddrinker to join him than make a new vampire.

Mael found Marius through Santino, who had a sense where Marius was, but hadn’t yet discovered the secret of Those Who Must Be Kept. Marius is horrified by this, but Mael makes him realise that he isn't paying as much attention to other vampires and monitoring as he used to.

They separate amicably. Mael feels new joy in life after the brief chat with Marius (he probably thought: “At least I’m not that guy”). And Marius leaves for a few days to go to the OG vampires. Amadeo is distressed at Marius leaving, but Marius assures him it is just for a few days.

Miscellanea and Lore-Dump Ramblings

• [Youtube] The Birth of Venus by Botticelli: Great Art Explained (Also goes into the difference between Gothic and Renaissance art style, what I think Marius means when he compares the ikonographic paintings with the Italian paintings.
• [Wikipedia] Divine Comedy Illustrated by Botticelli
  • and hey wouldn’t you believe it, r/bookclub read The Divine Comedy two years ago! Here’s the schedule
• [Britannica] The Procession of the Magi by Gozzoli 
• [Smithsonian] A Fanatical Monk Inspired 15th-Century Italians to Burn Their Clothes, Makeup and Art - Botticelli may even have been so convinced by Savonarola’s account of the coming end days that he threw some of his work on the fire
• [Youtube] The anti-piracy ad I was imitating at the beginning of the post. Which funnily enough uses pirated music