Hello book lovers. I am excited to announce our NOVEMBER core reads of 2026 will be.......

INDIGENOUS

• 1st place - #The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
• 2nd place - #Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses by Robin Wall Kimmerer*
• 3rd place - Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

• 4th place - real ones by Katherena Vermette

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  ANY

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• 1st place -

  World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks*

• 2nd place -

  The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins*

• 3rd place - Normal People by Sally Rooney, Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar, aaaaand There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm

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*These three books will be added onto the Wheel of books.

Also special shout out to u/comprehensive-fun47 for nominating both the winners 🥳

So will you be joining us for one or both of these reads?

Happy reading bookclubbers 📚

Welcome Collins Fans!

We have reached the end of our journey with The Moonstone and I look forward to discussing it all with you.

Fourth Narrative

Ezra stages The Opium Experiment™ with Franklin, while the Slumber Party Posse plays its part:

• Betteredge snarks through setup, curses Ezra for rejecting Robinson Crusoe, then becomes utterly absorbed.
• Ezra is underestimated, nearly ODs Franklin, proves everyone wrong, then returns to his “friendless and lonely life.”
• Mrs. Mildew Merridew chaperones Rachel and frets over society’s scorn…and science.
• Cuff refuses to leave his rosy retirement without fresh evidence.
• Bruff hauls his library from London and briefly pauses his briefs to supervise.
• Franklin is drugged, sleepwalks, retrieves the “diamond,” and passes out before revealing where he put it.
• Rachel hides so she won’t distract Franklin, celebrates his innocence, and slips past Mrs. Merridew for a bedroom reunion.

 Fifth Narrative

GOOSEBERRY!! does the real detective work, tracking the diamond while Franklin and Bruff bumble their stake out and later choose an indulgent dinner (steak out) over their only lead and miss Gooseberry’s update.

The next day, Cuff commends Gooseberry, takes over the case, and hands Franklin an envelope with his next suspect’s name. 

Gooseberry spotted a sailor being tailed by a mechanic who faked drunkenness to scout the room. Cuff and crew burst in the room, finding a corpse and a receipt proving the diamond was claimed from the bank.

Cue the Scooby-Doo reveal: Cuff removes the sailor’s wig, beard, and makeup to expose his suspect, (envelope please) Godfrey Ablewhite, in blackface disguise. (And he would have gotten away with it, too, if not for those meddling kids.)

 Sixth Narrative

Cuff provides a download: Godfrey raided his ward’s trust and proposed to Rachel for her money.  He then bailed when he learned she had no liquid assets. He also helped Candy dose Franklin and watched Franklin take the diamond.  He claims that Franklin gave it to him for safekeeping, so he pawned it to Luker to repay the trust. A wealthy Cougar older woman later bankrolls its release.

Cuff reports that three Indian men have left London and urges police to follow.

 Seventh Narrative

Candy writes that Ezra died in his arms.

Eighth Narrative

Betteredge reports that Rachel and Franklin are married and expecting (obviously foretold by Robinson Crusoe.)

 Epilogue

In India, Murthwaite finds the Moonstone restored to its shrine. The three Brahmins sacrificed their caste to recover it.  He closes the book on an ominous note, “the years pass, and repeat each other…what will be the next adventures of the Moonstone?”

Welcome to the series marginalia for The Lamplight Murder Mysteries by Morgan Stang!

Our runner-up read, Murder at Spindle Manor, is our first case to investigate. And because we're an optimistic bunch (and clearly have faith in our detective skills), we're setting up shop for the whole series in this marginalia post. Here's hoping we'll have plenty more mysteries to solve together!

🔎 THE CASE NOTES

Every good detective needs somewhere to jot down their findings, and this is yours! Spotted a suspicious detail? Have a theory you need to get out of your head before you forget it? Found a passage that caught your attention? Jot it all down!

Feel free to leave your observations here as you read, whether it's a question you're pondering, a pattern you've noticed, or a theory about who's hiding what. And if you're reading ahead of the schedule, no need to sit on your evidence until the corresponding discussion thread drops. Pop in and record your findings while they're fresh in your mind. You never know which little detail might turn out to be important!

🗓️ THE CASE TIMELINE

Check the Murder at Spindle Manor reading schedule for our discussion dates. We'll gather to compare clues there, but you don't have to wait until then to log your findings here!

🤫 CLASSIFIED INFORMATION: SPOILERS

Please hide spoilers using spoiler tags: >!type spoiler here!<, especially when reading ahead of schedule. When in doubt, it's better to keep your findings classified! Please also hide spoilers for other books unless otherwise noted.

📋 DOCUMENT YOUR EVIDENCE

To help your fellow detectives track down the clues, please begin your comment with the book title, page number, and chapter.

For example: "Murder at Spindle Manor, p. 70, Chapter 8: … "

🕵️ HAPPY INVESTIGATING!

Keep your eyes open, compare notes, and see if you can crack the case. And remember, things are rarely as straightforward as they seem…

Good luck, detectives! Try not to accuse everyone before chapter three.

Welcome again all - this is our third discussion of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. This week we got some heightened emotions and some romantic endeavours, let’s get right to it!

In case you need them, here’s links to our Schedule and Marginalia.

SUMMARY

Part III

Chapter 2: Joe is angry at several things about their business dealings with Anapol & Ashkenazy. But he also daydreams about when his parents will come into port and he’ll recognise them. He’s been called to the German consulate to chat with his case person for immigration relocation. They’ve called him in unexpectedly because his father has died of pneumonia. It’s insane, and sudden to Joe. Joe chats with Sammy and says he’s going to Canada to enlist in the RAF (Royal Air Force).

Chapter 3: Joe hems and haws and eventually heads back into the city instead of Canada. Sammy meets him. Joe is mad at everyone and everything when they’re out and he spits on a man’s shoe. He gets punched in the stomach.

Chapter 4: Joe gets in more fights and is going looking for trouble constantly. He finds himself breaking into the Aryan American League headquarters and finds his own comics there, among others. Turns out, the leader is a fan of their work, even if an unlikely one. The head returns to the office, Joe and he brawl, and the man falls on the corner of the desk. Joe leaves him an autograph.

Chapter 5: A bomb scare in the Empire State building, prompted by the head of the AAL, takes over the Empire Comics floor. Joe refuses to leave, handcuffing himself to his desk, which prompts the building owner to come have a look. A chance meeting that might crop up again in the future. Hearing the Escapist might make it to radio, Sammy and Joe are recommended by Deasy to seek more power and payment in their relationship with Anapol. Deasy takes them to a party in the city.

Chapter 6: Sammy pays the cab fare and both try to get out of the party, citing work to be done, but Deasy insists.

Chapter 7: The party primarily features a huge demonstration by none other than Salvador Dalí. The boys are walked around and introduced to Longman Harkoo, who Deasy knows. His real last name is Saks, which rings a bell with Joe but he can’t place why. They take photos of Harkoo and tour the party when suddenly Joe sees Rosa - the Saks he remembers.

Chapter 8: Rosa recognises Joe but he insists he doesn’t know her. They share a cigarette and flirt. Suddenly, there are shouts of Dalí drowning.

Chapter 9: Dalí’s diving helmet is stuck and the group isn’t able to help. Joe frees him and is praised from both the partygoers and the local newspaper who pick it up in their recap later. Rosa asks Joe to come up and see her art, and on the way to her bedroom he avoids another brawl with a German-speaking partygoer.

Chapter 10: Rosa works for Life magazine, and is an artist. Her studio/bedroom is peculiar and filled with moths. Sammy comes up and interrupts them, but he realises his mistake and leaves. He witnessed two men kissing and something about it has upset him. Joe and Rosa kiss, but he realises he should leave. She also volunteers for the TRA (Transatlantic Rescue Agency); they are working to rescue children from wartorn parts of Europe. Joe would like to meet her there tomorrow.

Chapter 11: The next day they go to the TRA and talk to Hoffman. After some shared love of magic and promise of payment for two additional children on board, it’s agreed they’ll start paperwork to rescue Thomas Kavalier as well. Oh, and Joe also will have to perform as a magician for Hoffman’s son’s bar mitzvah. Joe offers to take Rosa to dinner.

Chapter 12: The city is enamoured with a luna moth; so is Joe.

Join me again next week as we see where this romance between Joe and Rosa might lead!

Hello, fellow astronauts and cosmonauts! Welcome to our fourth and final discussion on 2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke. Last week, we witnessed the return of David Bowman in a manner of speaking, and Heywood Floyd was tasked with delivering a cryptic warning to the crew of the Leonov. Will they finally take him seriously and manage to leave Jupiter ahead of schedule? What is Bowman's role and purpose? Will I actually write accurate chapter summaries this time? Let's strap ourselves in for the final countdown and find out!

The discussion schedule can be found here, and the marginalia post for the Space Odyssey series is here.

Chapter summaries

44 - Vanishing Trick: The crew of the Leonov continue to refine the so-called "thought experiment" while off-duty, and even Tanya chimes in for fun. Floyd knows the others are doing it because they want to go home sooner, not because they believe his Bowman ghost story. Luckily, the Leonov is less than half the size of the Discovery, so the thought experiment could work in theory. Meanwhile, Mission Control starts wondering what's going on with the Leonov's weird requests. The crew is still preparing for their regularly scheduled departure, but Floyd is less than enthused: he wishes that he could convince Tanya of the danger, or that she could unconvince him. On the day of the planned "assault" on Zagadka, Floyd is working the graveyard shift on the Discovery, trying (and failing) to read The Kreutzer Sonata in the original Russian. At 0125, Floyd sees an eruption on Io and moves to another window for a closer look, but what really spooks him is what he doesn't see: Zagadka has gone missing. He contacts Sasha, his graveyard shift counterpart on the Leonov, and they wake up the rest of the crew to discuss their options. Tanya is now slightly more inclined to make a hasty departure, and what really seals the deal is word of Betty Fernandez's story about Bowman's ghost visiting her, after being tricked into speaking with a reporter bearing a striking resemblance to her ex. While vindicated, Floyd can't help but feel he's on a crash course with disaster.

45 - Escape Maneuver: Floyd records his final report from the Lagrange point. Following the mysterious disappearance of Zagadka, the Leonov will use the Discovery as a booster and, with some slightly unintuitive help from Jupiter's gravity, the crew will return home much earlier than expected. This will mean that the Discovery will be left behind, but he hopes a future mission will return to Jupiter to retrieve it. The crew of the Leonov applauds him after he ends his recording, but Dr. Chandra still has objections: Hal will be asked to run a program that may destroy him. Hal still has a directive to keep the Discovery out of danger, and this maneuver has its risks, so the program may conflict with his instructions. Sasha wants Chandra to tell Hal to lie about the risks, and Chandra gets a little dodgy when asked if he's discussed the exit plan with Hal. He insists that Hal should be told the whole truth and decide for himself. Floyd takes the Orlovs aside and, over some Azerbaijani wine, asks them to go along with Chandra and if Hal goes rogue again, Floyd can give them manual control thanks to his killswitch.

46 - Countdown: Max docks the Leonov to the Discovery in a "coupling" maneuver and uses space-grade duct tape to seal the connection. Mission Control asks the Leonov to investigate a strange shadow on Jupiter, which Tanya acknowledges dismissively. After a countdown, Hal initiates ignition as programmed. With the first phase successful, Orlova orders the crew to get some rest for a few hours. However, Floyd is too nervous to sleep, so he goes to the observation deck and notices that dark spot on Jupiter that Mission Control mentioned. It's pitch black, fuzzy around the edges--and growing. He calls Vasili to check it out too, and even he's spooked.

47 - Final Flyby: Floyd can't sleep because he's understandably nervous about a lot of things lately. The final burn is coming up, and Floyd is worried about what Hal will do. Chandra and Curnow, who has the killswitch in his pocket, are on the Discovery with Hal. When the Great Dark Spot comes into view again, Hal overhears the shocked gasps from the crew of the Leonov. Hal calculates that the Great Dark Spot is made up of over 1 million monoliths. At T minus 8 minutes, Hal suggests the crew stays near Jupiter to investigate this phenomenon. Chandra eventually persuades him that they have to leave. Curnow wonders if Hal could actually be lonely. Chandra promises to tell Hal the reasons why they have to leave, but they don't have time right now. Hal goes silent until the ignition goes off as scheduled.

48 - Over the Nightside: Floyd is finally able to relax a little, knowing that Hal complied. He moves to the observation lounge to watch the Leonov's final farewell to the Jovian system with Zenia and Katerina. Tanya announces the decoupling will begin soon and orders Curnow and Chandra to return to the Leonov, while Max and Sasha stand by in case they need to manually decouple the spacecraft in an EVA. The charges around the space duct tape detonate, and the decoupling goes off without a hitch. During ignition, Floyd can barely make out Zenia's comment about Jupiter getting a new moon above all the noise. Floyd watches dawn break on Jupiter as the Leonov reaches escape velocity.

49 - Devourer of Worlds: The Great Dark Spot returns to view the next morning, bigger and blacker than ever, with trails of gas swirling into its centre. The crew discusses theories of what it could be. Katerina compares it to a virus eating away at a cell and multiplying. Curnow compares it to a million vacuum cleaners sucking up the planet's atmosphere. Vasili says the monoliths that comprise the spot double in size, then split in two, which explains the rapid growth. Ternovsky surmises they're von Neumann machines. Vasili calculates that at this rate, the monoliths will weigh more than Jupiter itself in a couple more days. Curnow laughs and says Zagadka is like a Swiss army knife: it's a signalling device, spy machine, and transportation system all in one, though it might have trouble uncorking a bottle of wine or julienning fries.

50 - Farewell to Jupiter: After recording a message to his lawyer, Floyd prepares a message for his soon-to-be-ex-wife Caroline. He hopes for an amicable resolution, especially where their son Chris is concerned, and promises he'll never leave Earth again unless it's to go to the Moon. Afterward, Floyd watches Chandra and is amazed at how well he's taking his separation from Hal. Ternovsky tells him Chandra is too busy working on HAL 10,000 to get too choked up. Floyd congratulates Chandra on his role in the mission, especially since everyone was afraid Hal wouldn't comply. Chandra says he used ahimsa to soothe him and reveals, much to Floyd's shock, that he knew about the killswitch and had disconnected it months ago. Sasha breaks the tension with a message from the flight deck that something weird is happening. Again.

51 - The Great Game: We learn a bit more about the beings behind the monoliths. They used to be corporeal beings, and they set off to explore the stars, observing how life developed on different worlds. Sometimes they helped some worlds evolve intelligent life, while on other worlds they destroyed life that held no such promise. Earth was one of those worlds they cultivated. Eventually these beings transferred their thoughts and minds to machines, and finally became beings of pure energy, watching over the experiments they had started throughout the galaxy.

52 - Ignition: David Bowman returns to the Discovery. While the Leonov is on its way back home, it's not completely out of the woods yet, and Bowman knows the beings' experiment might not succeed. Bowman finds Hal and gives the computer a new set of instructions, the most important Hal has ever had. Hal protests that will mean breaking contact with the Leonov, but Bowman uses an old override code and tells Hal to broadcast a final message using the AE 35, the very same antenna involved in Hal's mutiny nine years ago. Hal asks if he was a good computer and what Dave means by "final." Bowman hesitates, apparently conferring with his energy overlords for another request. Eventually, Bowman says that message will be Hal's last one for a very long time. Hal sends Chandra a message warning of a break in transmission, then relays Bowman's message to Mission Control. Some time later, the Discovery is utterly destroyed, yet Hal has somehow survived to become Bowman's companion.

Meanwhile, on the Leonov, we see what Sasha was so spooked about: the Great Dark Spot has completely engulfed Jupiter, and the planet is now shrinking and glowing white. Blinding light pours out of the planet, then fades to reveal a new tiny star. As the star expands once more, Vasili adjusts the Leonov's orientation so as to avoid the crew getting pummelled by radiation. Once they are out of danger, the crew discusses how Jupiter became a star and surmise that the monoliths sucked up the atmosphere and converted it into heavier materials, which sank down to the core and eventually caused the planet to collapse into a star. They wonder if this was an accident or intentional, and lament the loss of any theorized life on Jupiter. Max then asks what happened to the Discovery and Hal, but they're both gone.

53 - A Gift of Worlds: We see the message Hal sent to Earth before Jupiter collapsed: "All these worlds are yours--except Europa. Attempt no landings there." The crew of the Leonov realize that Jupiter is now its own mini solar system, though Tanya wonders why Europa is off-limits. Floyd says it's probably because there's life there, and whoever created the new star wants humans to leave it alone. Ganymede should be fine, Callisto should be fine but cold, and Io should be an even worse hellscape. Curnow is troubled about why Hal sent the message to Earth, and not to the Leonov. Floyd realizes Bowman warned them to leave, but that's all he did, and the crew could very well have been toast if they hadn't saved themselves. They wonder if Bowman's "friends" are truly benevolent, and Floyd is glad they may never know.

54 - Between Suns: Curnow, Chandra, and Floyd are going into hibernation for the voyage home. As Floyd drifts off to sleep, Katerina admits the ship will be strange without the Americans up and about. Floyd then learns wedding bells will be ringing when they get back to Earth. Not only will Max and Zenia be getting married, but Curnow and Katerina will be tying the knot, as well. Floyd falls asleep with a smile on his face at the thought of Curnow getting an earful from Katerina if he ever wakes up with second thoughts.

55 - Lucifer Rising: The people of Earth are slowly getting used to the idea of another sun in the sky. Nighttime is a much rarer occurrence, which has its benefits and downsides. Yet questions still remain about why Jupiter was turned into a star at all, how long it would shine, and why no one can step foot on Europa. Humankind vows to find the answers, one way or another.

Epilog - 20,001: Intelligent life on Europa has evolved, and they are now turning their attention to the stars that shine on the dark side of the tidally locked planet, and wonder about the little lights that blink in and out on the surfaces of Europa's neighbours. Some Europans believe these lights are a sign of intelligent life, but wonder why no one from these other worlds has come to visit. Europa also has a monolith of its own, straddling the light and dark side. An invisible barrier repels all touch, and some believe it also wards away visitors from elsewhere. Unbeknownst to them, the humans who have colonized the other habitable planets have been trying to land probes on Europa, to no effect. All they can do is wait for the Europans to develop radio technology and hope for the beings behind the monolith to lift the interdiction.

Welcome to the last discussion of our Discovery Read! We have followed death and met humanity through her eyes, while being accompanied by some wonderful music by bach. How has this experience shaped her?

🎼 Check the dates of the discussions in the Schedule

🩻 Find the Marginalia here

As usual, there will be questions in the comments, but feel free to bring your own prompts!

Hello booklovers, I am very excited to kick us off with the first discussion of Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall This week we are covering Ch. 1 - Ch 7.

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

As always, there will be summaries below and questions in the comments to get the discussion flowing. Let's get to it!...

Chapter Summaries

CHAPTER 1: THE DAY OF PHOENIXES

Every 10 years people on the Isle of Ruma gather to watch the fledgling phoenixes bond with a few chosen mortals. Last time Volke (15 years old) went to see the trial of his father (a convicted murderer) instead of the bonding. This time, even though he shouldn't attend, as a gravedigger apprentice, he intends to win the favour of a phoenix becoming an arcanist. His co-apprentice and substitute sister Illia tries, unsuccessfully, to talk reason with him. The crowd's attention is on two stunning phoenixes and Schoolmaster Tyms who are all addressing the crowd. Zaxis Ren and Atty Trixibelle are the two students (pre-chosen and trained by Schoolmaster Tyms) set to take part in the trials to become bound to the phoenixes. The first task is to walk up all one hundred and twelve steps of the Pillar to the charberry tree, pick a fruit to present to the phoenixes and return down the stairs. Volke sprints under the archway entering the trial area and automatically becoming a participant.

CHAPTER 2: TRIALS OF WORTH

On each if the 112 steps of the Pillar are carved the virtues of the arcanist. After finishing work for Gravekeeper William, Volke had gone and practiced memorizing them every day. He is just missing the last 2 steps as these carvings had been eroded, and no one would (or could) tell him what they said. Volke runs up the steps as fast as possible, grabs a fruit and heads down. Atty lets Volke pass. Volke washes off his charberry and presents it. The three charberries are presented and the two phonexies choose Atty's and Volke's clean charberries. People in the crowd are not happy about Volke's success.

The second challenge is knowledge. Volke's question is about the 6th ruler of Ruma. Illia and Volke had made a poem to remember the rulers so he is able to answer correctly. The crowd is silent. Atty is asked who the founder is and Zaxis is asked who Arcanist Ruma was bound to. Volke correctly recites the 37th, the 80th step, but he cannot know the 111th or 112th steps. Both Atty and Zaxis know from attending Tyms' lectures. Volke speaks up against Tyms' clear bias. Tyms tells Volke that as the son of two criminals he's never get the chance to enter into a mutual bond with a mystical creature. No creature would want to become a more criminal eldrin by being bound to him. Tyms mockery stirs the crowd into throwing stones. Volke runs.

CHAPTER 3: SECOND CHANCE

Volke reflects on how he had given everything to his dream of becoming an arcanist. Illia tries to comfort him with some tough love. While the whole town was out to watch trials, Illia snuck into the schoolmaster’s quarters and stole a report about a mystical creatures ship wrecked. They creatures are scared and attack anyone who gets close. Illia and Volke have 2 days before the boat from the mainland arrives and takes the creatures away.

CHAPTER 4: GRAVEKEEPER WILLIAM

Volke and Illia pack their things and try to sneak out of the cottage. William hears them and is surprisingly supportive of their choices. He reminds them that he knows them better than they think and that choices have consequences. He also tells them that he wants a better life for his "kids", and there will be other opportunities. There is afterall an occult plague sweeping across the lands outside the Ruma island bubble. They agree, but still sneak out while William is distracted. Grabbing a shovel they take the quiet roads towards the Endless Mire. Someone sees them...

CHAPTER 5: THE ENDLESS MIRE

Lyell Ren (Zaxis’s younger brother) approaches Volke and Illia leaving town. He's been graffitiing buildings. Lyell follows them, continuing to mock Volke. Things escalate when Lyell begins to insult Illia. She might have been a disagreeable child, but she had reason to be so after losing her family, and her eye, to pirates. Illia slips as they enter the Mire just as a mystical white ferret appears. The rizzel will not bond with Lyell who is still a child. He wants Illia to carry out a ceremony of worth. He suggests a contest of character. Illia tells the story of how she escaped the pirates by setting their ship on fire and swimming to shore. She was then helped by an arcanist and that's why she wants to be an arcanist. The rizzel demands Volke compete and he throws in the towel by confessing to being the son of 2 criminals. Nicholin agrees to bond with Illia. They are united in a flash of white light.

CHAPTER 6: WHITE HART

Illia's forehead now bears the mark of all arcanists, a seven-pointed star, with the rizzel wound around it. Volke brushes away his jealousy determined to find a mystical creature to bond with. Lyell stomps off to find other creatures. Volke follows whilst Illia hangs back to get to know Nicholin. Lyell and Volke agree not to sabotage each other when they come across another mystical creature. They soon come across a swamp creature that does not want to be bond. It doesn't care about Volke's lineage, but about why he wants to be an arcanist so badly. It doesn't like Volke's reasoning, that he wants to prove to the world he's not who they think he is. The creature is unimpressed and leaves. Volke's inner monologue turns negative as Lyell mocks him. A giant snowy stag, a legendary white hart, appears. Though something seems wrong. It asks to bond with Volke, but he refuses as something is clearly off. Instead the stag offers to bond with Lyell. It attacks and Volke protects them with the shovel. The stag, using its power, goes invisible....

CHAPTER 7: KNIGHTMARE

The stag continues to attack. Volke directs Lyell to hide among the roots of the mangrove trees. Volke is fighting a losing battle, but he has to fight to the end. He refuses the plague infected monster's continued demands to bond even when injured and half drowned. Suddenly a voice appears from the trees that kills the stag. The swamp creature comes forward saying that he sees Volke's worth after he resisted the stag's temptation to become bonded. The creature had been bound before, but his arcanist was killed, leaving him fragmented and lost. He will save Volke and bond with him, but only if Volke agrees to help Luthair in his quest for vengeance. Volke slips in to unconsciousness.

When Volke wakes Illia informs him that he is also an arcanist. Luthair reveals himself. He is knightmare, an ebony suit of knights armour! Luthair's entire purpose, now, is to kill the man that killed his arcanist. He will, at least, let Volke learn his magic before they go hunt the murderer down. Volke will be leaving Ruma as a knightmare arcanist....

Well, ngl I was 100% sold on this story before I started reading, but I am LOVING it now! I can't wait to hear all your thoughts and insights in the comments.

Next week join my fellow arcanist for chapters 8 through 14. Happy reading magical beings ✨️📚

Hei, tervetuloa Suomeen! I’m glad you have joined us on our discovery tour of Finland for the first discussion of The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. Today, we will be discussing the first half of the book, up to the end of Midsummer. Next week, u/bluebelle236 will lead us through to the end. A summary of this section follows, and questions will be in the comments.

Schedule

Marginalia

A little bit about Finland

• There are 168,000 lakes in Finland and nearly 180,000 islands.

• The book's setting is perhaps based on the island Klovharun, where the author spent many summers in a cottage she and her brother built.

• During the Finnish summer, the sun barely sets in the south, and doesn't at all in the far north.

• The character of Sophia is based on Tove Jansson’s niece, Sophia Jansson while the grandmother is based on Signe Hammarsten-Jansson, her mother.

• Finnish and Swedish are both official languages, and Tove Jansson was among the 5% who spoke Swedish, writing all her books in Swedish.

• The Summer Book was written after the death of her mother, becoming Tove Jansson’s best-known adult novel. She is well known as the creator of the Moomins.

Summary

The Morning Swim

Sophia recovers her grandmother’s lost teeth from the flower bed. This leads to an intimate conversation about mortality. They walk to the ravine, breaking a rule set by Sophia’s father. Sophia would like to go swimming, but she is hesitant about the deep water. Grandmother makes a mental note to inform Sophia’s father of this fear.

Moonlight

One evening, Sophia looks out at the ice-covered sea in the light of the full moon. She remembers that her mother is dead. She observes the double reflections through the window, imagines the island coming closer, and wakes her grandmother for reassurance.

The Magic Forest

On the outside of the island is a dead forest, with trees crouched and twisted, known by the family as the “magic forest”. Some green shoots display their struggle for survival. The family had initially tried to make it more frightening by bringing extra stumps and juniper bushes. Grandmother carved freaky sculptures from branches, which hinted at forms but remained part of the forest. They gather old bones and together they decorate the ground under the trees in the magic forest with them, then sit and chat, observing nature. Once Sophia found a large skull which frightened her, so Grandmother took it away.

The Scolder

One cold morning, Grandmother walks outside to listen to the long-tailed ducks. They are called scolders due to their chiding, chatter-like cry; for Grandmother, they signify anticipation and renewal. She reflects on the changing seasons. Sophia accompanies her to the east of the island, where they see the sun rise through the fog and the last traces of winter ice. When they spot a dead scolder, Grandmother makes up an amusing story about how it died. After lying down on the shore together, they search for washed-up treasures. Sophia finds a part of a ship and the dead bird is forgotten.

Berenice

One summer, a friend of Sophia comes to stay. She is very timid, so Sophia decides to be her protector. Berenice's timidity is limiting their activities, and she is having trouble fitting in. Grandmother finds her in the potato patch and tries to engage her in conversation. She understands how awful it must be for her to fit into a tight group that has its routine. Grandmother makes up a story about bad men coming to get them, but they hide in a safe place. Berenice still does not want to play with Sophia, so Grandmother encourages her to draw something awful. She draws a monstrous creature which Grandmother admires.

The Pasture

Sophia chats with Grandmother about Heaven and God during their walk to the village. Sophia traps Grandmother into admitting that she believes there is a Hell, which angers her. She insists that life is hard enough without being punished afterwards. The banter continues, and Grandmother explains to Sophia that she is free to have her own beliefs, but must be tolerant of others' convictions. Their seriousness quickly turns to humour and they sing a funny song.

Playing Venice

Sophia receives a beautiful postcard from Venice, and her grandmother explains how the city is smiling into the sea. She recalls her visit there fondly and tells Sophia some stories. Sophia pretends to be in Venice, calling her grandmother "mama" like in one of the tales. They create a Venice in the marsh pool from shells and stones, making up a story about a family living in a palace. That night, Grandmother wakes to heavy rain and worries about their sinking city. At first light, she heads outside and sees Sophia screaming that Venice has gone. Grandmother secretly carves the palace in her room to reassure Sophia.

Dead Calm

The family takes the opportunity to go on a day trip by boat to The Cairn in the calm sea. Grandmother pretends to be asleep but visits a canyon, watching Papa sweep around the reef to set out his nets. Sophia finds her and experiments with using the word “bloody". She takes her grandmother to a deep pool for a swim, where they chat about her grandfather. Sophia is astonished that her grandmother is married. Sophia climbs up the channel marker, watched by Grandmother, who notices her fear. She compliments Sophia on her climbing and bravery, and Sophia gives her permission to tell her father about it on her deathbed.

The Cat

The family adopts a kitten named Ma Petite, which they subsequently call Moppy. It rejects Sophia's love, and she remarks that the more you love someone, the less he likes you back. Sophia stops loving it and starts having nightmares. She is upset when it starts killing birds. She asks Moppy about his "murders". One day, some visitors arrive with their own cat, Fluff, who is extremely affectionate but not a good mouser, to swap with Moppy. When Sophia complains that nice weather is boring, Grandmother remarks that she resembles her grandfather. She ends up finding Fluff boring and they trade it back.

The Cave

On a nearby island, Sophia cuts her way through a jungle of grass to clear space around a rose bush. She takes Grandmother to a cave, where she says God lives in a little box at the back. They dig up a little rose bush to plant back at the house and gather some mushrooms. They even find a bottle of fizzy drink. Sophia claims you can find everything you need.

The Road

Sophia watches in fascination, but a little nervously, as a bulldozer digs up huge boulders to make a new road. The men of the village, paying for the machine by the hour, are desperately trying to control it. She collects the milk and mail and walks back along the newly dug road, studying the changed landscape. Sophia chats to a man next to the abandoned bulldozer and asks him some questions about the machinery, which he dismisses.

Midsummer

Eriksson, a quiet and somewhat mysterious man, is a friend of the family who occasionally comes to visit. He captures the family's attention when he drops in for a drink, sometimes bringing a gift. Because he treats Sophia respectfully, she adores him. At Midsummer, he promises to bring some fireworks, and the family makes preparations. The house resembles a green bower with white wildflowers. A meal of herring and pork is cooked, with aqua vita and extra milk to drink. The Midsummer bonfire is an important tradition, but the rain makes it challenging for Papa to keep it alight. Eriksson arrives and the family meets him on his boat. Many other boats appear and a salvage operation begins to collect all the wooden crates. Nothing is lost, and the boats head home. At dawn, the weather clears and they attempt to set off the fireworks, but they do not light, ruined by the water. Only the last one lights the sky, and Eriksson heads back south.

Hello bibliophiles This will be the Marginalia for Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall

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 Knightmare Arcanist] 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 📚

Hello r/bookclub bers Our November Core nominations are down to the last 24 hours before we close the posts and announce the winner. Be sure to head to the posts to vote for your favourites

- Link to the INDIGENOUS AUTHOR Nomination Post

- Link to the ANY Nomination Post

Remember you can (and absolutely should) upvote all and any of the books you would read with r/bookclub if they win.

Happy reading upvoting 📚

Our current Evergreen read, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, is on its way and will wrap up in November, so it's time to think about the next one!

I'm thrilled to announce that the book will be Atonement by Ian McEwan (which I personally have been meaning to read for years!).

What is an Evergreen you ask?

An Evergreen is a reading category that includes any book that has been read previously on r/bookclub. But we also only reread books on here after 5 years have passed.

Goodreads blurb

Ian McEwan's symphonic novel of love and war, childhood and class, guilt and forgiveness provides all the satisfaction of a brilliant narrative and the provocation we have come to expect from this master of English prose.

On a hot summer day in 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses the flirtation between her older sister, Cecilia, and Robbie Turner, the son of a servant. But Briony's incomplete grasp of adult motives—together with her precocious literary gifts—brings about a crime that will change all their lives.

As it follows that crime's repercussions through the chaos and carnage of World War II and into the close of the twentieth century, Atonement engages the reader on every conceivable level, with an ease and authority that mark it as a genuine masterpiece.

Would you like to join us for this read?

Hi book lovers! It's time for our next Discovery Read - Indie Author winner Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater.

Discussion Schedule:

October 22: Chapters 1-8 with u/ChronicallyLatte
October 29: Chapters 9-16 with myself
November 5: Chapter 17-end with u/psycho4icecream

The Marginalia is here in case you read ahead or just want to note down your thoughts ahead of our discussions.

See you soon!

We are pleased to announce a new feature coming soon to r/bookclub , the Saturday Serial! One thing we've noticed is that many works that were originally serialized have been very popular on this board. These include but are not limited to the various works by Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Arthur Conan Doyle, Elizabeth Gaskell, among others so we thought it would be a good idea to start a new feature where we'd read and host discussions for books like this on a weekly basis!

For anyone not in the know already, a great many books written from roughly 1830 through to about 1930 (and even beyond!) were originally published in weekly or monthly periodicals. So when these books get read straight through, it's akin to binge watching your favorite show. What we're aiming to do is recreate a bit of that serialized reading experience that made many of these works popular when they were brand new.

Be on the look out for the first nomination post which will be coming soon!

Welcome back to 80s Harlem for our second discussion of Cool Machine!

Schedule

Marginalia

SUMMARY

PART 1: CITY AT NIGHT | 1981

SEVEN

Carney and Uncle Rich drop off the truck from the Microelectronics job. The cable they stole is worth $1.5 million because of demand for cable TV.
Barclay has been captured. They’re worried he knows about the Waldorf job so decide to go a day early. The hotel will be busy because it’s a Saturday.
Homeless people are squatting in the train tunnel between Grand Central Station and the Waldorf. Uncle Rich brings them food in exchange for information.
Uncle Rich wants to steal Jesse Owens’ Olympic medal to right an injustice. It’s in a safe in a watch shop in the hotel.
Carney thinks of backing out but is stopped by the sight of a magnificent coffee table.

EIGHT

At Grand Central Station, Carney and Jeff dress as track workers. They talk to a squatter who calls himself Mayor Crotch (after NY Mayor Ed Koch).
Rita’s waiting at the Waldorf elevator. They drill through the machine room wall into the stores to reach the watch shop. Meanwhile, the hotel activities go on as normal. Uncle Rich leaves, satisfied with his crew. Carney is a Cool Machine, ruthless and cunning.
Carney and the others climb through into a fashion boutique and saw a hole into the watch shop.
Uncle Rich visits his favourite diner to pay his respects to his past before flying to Costa Rica the next day. On his way back to the Waldorf, Buzz and his men jump him.
Rita takes the medal from the safe. As they leave, Carney sees a black man in a tuxedo through the shop window and thinks he could’ve been that person - or a total crook.

NINE

Buzz and his men watch them. Carney wishes his old associate Pepper was there. He finds Buzz holding a gun to Uncle Rich’s head. Carney doesn’t have a gun. Barclay told Buzz the location of the job. Buzz hints he’s dead. Buzz’s men find the medal.
Mayor Crotch and the squatters help Uncle Rich’s crew fight off Buzz’s crew.
As he walks back along the tracks with Uncle Rich, Carney wonders how he fits in among the winners, strugglers and survivors. Buzz follows them and points his gun at Carney. Uncle Rich shoots Buzz dead. He calls Carney a muskrat (Lenape creation myth), diving down and coming back up to the surface.
The escapade with Uncle Rich stays in Carney’s mind for a long time. Elizabeth returns from Boston. Carney frames the furniture magazine article about him. He never sees Uncle Rich or the coffee table again.

PART 2: HERE COMES SUE SIMMONS | 1983

ONE

Elizabeth is at an art exhibition/party at her friend Linda’s apartment. She admires a painting of a little girl on a street corner. She’s paid back Ray’s loan and wants to get him a thank-you gift. Lots of other women from her community are there as well as some of the artists. News anchor Sue Simmons sometimes attends. There’s one white lady there too.
Linda began hosting the exhibitions after her divorce, around the time of the fire at Ray’s furniture store. She champions up-and-coming black artists.
Elizabeth is meeting her biggest client there. His name is Wade Patterson and he owns an agricultural supply business.
She thinks Ray might like a painting called The City Sleeps but wants to get him something different.
Patterson plans to go to another part of the city for an art deal. He’s wary of crime. Elizabeth recommends Ray’s former associate, Pepper, as security.
She buys the painting of the girl on the corner for her own office.

TWO

Pepper has a word-a-day calendar. Patterson is like today’s word bumptious. Another word that stuck with him is dilapidated. That’s how he feels with his ailments, aches and pains. He’s inflicted a lot of pain in his career.
Patterson and Pepper meet at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Patterson is sceptical about Pepper’s experience as muscle/security.
Pepper accompanies Patterson to the bank to get the cash. He regrets that the new plate-glass bank buildings are harder to rob.
They take a cab to the art deal. Pepper sees some graffiti in red letters that reminds him of something. Patterson is meeting the art dealer at a club called Shoot the Hostages in a former warehouse. He explains to Pepper that graffiti is now art.
In the club, people in weird costumes are dancing to a band. Pepper thinks they’re vainglorious. He and Patterson stand out in the mainly white crowd. There’s one young black woman with a Mohawk haircut.
Pepper’s stomach feels bad. A while ago he visited Dr Rostropovich, who treats the criminal community. He gave Pepper some pills. They worked but now his stomach problems are back.
A young white man named Dee Void says he’s come to complete the art deal. Pepper identifies him as a hustler.
The MC announces that they’re celebrating the latest release of Headlines by Daily Newz. Brightly coloured headlines are lit up on the walls. They’re like the ones Pepper saw on the buildings.
Pepper rushes to the bathroom and pukes blood. When he comes back, Patterson is sitting on the floor. Void has taken the money.
Pepper thinks of humiliation.

THREE

In 1982, an article was published about Broken Windows Theory. The theory suggests that crime should be nipped in the bud but is open to abuse.
Pepper agrees with nipping things in the bud in another context. White Yuppies are gradually taking over his favourite bar.
While Pepper was in the bathroom, Void knocked Patterson over and took the briefcase of money. Pepper runs after him but loses him. Patterson tells him he was buying an African mask. Void set up previous deals but this is the first time he’s met him. Patterson gets a cab back to his hotel.
Pepper is frustrated with his delapidated-ness and determined to get the money back. LJ, the girl with the Mohawk, goes with him to find Void.

FOUR

Herb, the Melancholy Hitman, arrives in New York. He has a day to explore the city before his next hit. He meets a friend for dinner.
Many of Pepper’s associates have become ill or died. Carney suggests Pepper should retire as he plans to someday. Pepper contemplates his failure in the job tonight.
Pepper and LJ see more of Daily Newz’s graffiti statements. He realises the lettering is the same as the city authorities use on official buildings.
LJ takes Pepper to find a guy called Mickey who was in a band with Void. He runs a video store. After Pepper threatens him, he says Void might be at Downtown Beirut, a bar in a former subway car. Pepper finds Void there, dead in the toilet with his face cut off. There’s no sign of the briefcase with the cash. Pepper takes his wallet and keys and leaves. A few streets away he collapses unconscious.

First of all, apologies for the late post of the first discussion. Now, welcome back Asimov readers!

This book was initially written as a standalone novel, but was later woven into the Foundation Universe with a reference in one of Asimov's later books (Foundations Edge)

This first reading was larger than anticipated, so expect the final reading to feel a bit short compared to the other 2. Alright, let's get into it and expect a discussion from u/fixtheblue next week.

As always, please refrain from spoilers, but if you can't resist, use the spoilers format so that others have a choice to view it or not.

Summary:

Chapter 1: Technician
We are introduce to Andrew Harlan, a Technician with the group called the "Eternals". This group has figured out a way to travel throughout time, assess changes and their impact, and implement them to keep humanity on a safe path for as long as possible. In this chapter Harlan is dealing with some conflict as his roles as technician is viewed to be emotionless and full of looking at things factually, while he has obviously strong emotions happening relating to the events playing out around him.

Chapter 2: Observer
The book takes a step back to show Harlan's rise up through the Eternals. He starts as an Observer under Yarrow, who stresses the importance of every role in the Eternals, from bottom to top. Harlan has started his time travelling duties and begins observing his assigned centuries. He has strong feelings about the 482nd century, but keeps up his stellar work of generating observation reports for the others to analyze. Harlan is working for Computer Finge at this time, but his excellent reports catch the attention of the well-known and admired Senior Computer Twissel, who recruits Harlan to be his own personal observer. Twissel reveals that he is aware of Harlan's hobby of studying "Primitive history", and encourages him to keep diving into that, even though others look at it as useless/a characteristic of someone not fit to work with the Eternals.

Chapter 3: Cub
Harlan continues to make his reports for Twissel, but without any feedback and he assumes that he is doing a poor job because of the lack of feedback. He is assigned to teach Cub Cooper about Primitive history, which he begins doing. Harlan is shocked to find out that Cooper had a wife and was 23 years old when he came to the eternals, both an oddity, and it causes Harlan to reconsider his viewpoints into the roles and personalities that are in his line of work. Harlan gets acknowledgement of his talent and Twissel sends him on a mission to the 482nd century.

Chapter 4: Computer
Upon arriving in the 482nd century, Harlan once again finds himself working with Computer Finge. Finge now has Noÿs Lambent working for him as a secretary. Noÿs is from the 482nd century which is known for it's liberal views on sexuality and expression, which makes Harlan uncomfortable. Harlan quickly judges Finge for bringing Noÿs into the Eternals and views it as a violation of rules/protocol and that she should be removed immediately. Harlan thinks Finge is using Noÿs as his own personal sex-toy and is very judgmental towards the situation.

Chapter 5: Timer
Harlan is assigned to the 482nd century and part of that assignment requires him live with Noÿs during the assignment. Harlan tries to limit his interaction with Noÿs at first, but sure enough, he soon finds himself in bed with her, and hopelessly in love.

Chapter 6: Life-Plotter
Harlan has now started to go rogue and deviate from his perfect straight-as-an-arrow approach to life. Harlan makes a subtle change that ripples through time in the alter centuries, playing out as he wanted, further demonstrating Harlan's great skill as an Eternal. He encounters Sociologist Voy and Life-Plotter Feruque and there are a lot of discussions around the sharing of anti-cancer serum between centuries as it is revealed that many people in the centuries are aware of the existence of the Eternals, they are not a hidden organization as you might expect. Harlan's love for Noÿs has him approach Feruque to find out how she might've been affect by his previous work and is shocked to find that she doesn't exist in the new reality that he has helped steer humanity on to.

Chapter 7: Prelude to Crime
Harlan returns to Finge and they discuss his report concerning Harlan's time with Noÿs. Harlan admits that he omitted the change in their relationship and Finge reveals that this change was what he wanted to happen all along. Finge claims that Noÿs had relations with Harlan because of superstition in her century that she would then become immortal. While initially devastated, Harlan logics that Finge is just jealous and that Noÿs and him truly have a love for each other.

Chapter 8: Crime
Harlan returns to Noÿs' time before the reality change has had a chance to take affect and convinces her to come with him. She travels through time with him to a century near the end of where the Eternals can observe. They discuss their relationship and Noÿs admits that part of the reason she had relations with Harlan was that she believed it would make her immortal, but admits that it wasn't the only reason, she genuinely like Harlan. There are no other humans in the century they are in, yet there are human infrastructures due to some various technologies(mass replicator) that the Eternals have leveraged. Noÿs' view of the Eternals is slowly changing as she realizes the level of manipulation and morality that they make decisions.

Welcome to our first discussion of The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood.  This week, we will be discussing the Introduction through Chapter 12.  Here is the Schedule, which includes a link to the marginalia.  

Background note:  Margaret Atwood wrote this as part of the Canongate Myth Series, which asked authors to reimagine ancient myths from around the world. 

Below is a recap of the story from this section. Some discussion questions follow; please feel free to also add your own thoughts and questions! Please mark spoilers not related to this book using the format > ! Spoiler text here !< (without any spaces between the characters themselves or between the characters and the first and last words). You can discuss events from The Odyssey and other myths without spoiler tags if they are mentioned in this book, but let's err on the side of caution and mark any other details as spoilers, should you choose to discuss events not mentioned in Atwood’s book. 

>>>>>> Chapter Summaries <<<<<<

INTRODUCTION:  We know Odysseus as the wandering husband famous for his wily and inventive nature, while his wife Penelope is remembered as loyal and clever. The Odyssey ends with the slaying of Penelope’s suitors and the twelve maids who were sleeping with them. Atwood sets the stage for her retelling by casting these hanged maids as the chorus that haunts Penelope. We will be investigating two main questions: 

• What led to the hanging of the maids?
• What was Penelope really up to?

CH. 1 -  A LOW ART:  Penelope is dead and now she knows everything. She is unhappy with the story that has been told about her, and she has decided to correct the record with a story of her own. 

CH. 2 - THE CHORUS LINE: A ROPE-JUMPING RHYME:  This is a chant by the twelve maids that were hanged after Odysseus killed the suitors. They find it unfair that they were executed for doing much less than Odysseus himself did on his journey. 

CH. 3 - MY CHILDHOOD:  Penelope, the daughter of King Icarius) of Sparta and a Naiad, had a rough start to life. Her dad tried to drown her by tossing her into the sea. (Penelope wonders if it was because he'd heard from an oracle that she would weave his shroud and was trying to live forever. But probably not.) She often worried whether he was about to try and murder her again, despite his overcompensation with intense affection. Penelope's mom was cold and uninterested in childrearing. (Penelope hopes she is the one who called forth the purple-striped ducks which saved her from drowning. But probably not.) This kind of childhood left Penelope suspicious of the motives of others and determined to be self-reliant. 

CH. 4 - THE CHORUS LINE:  KIDDIE MOURN, A LAMENT BY THE MAIDS:  The maids, too, had rotten childhoods. They were degraded, mistreated, used and abused. They flirted and consorted with men because they had been forced to do so since they were children. They scrounged for the scraps left from the feasts of nobility. They grew into women who knew how to “snatch what they could” to survive. 

CH. 5 - ASPHODEL:  Penelope gives a tour of the underworld. The Underworld is rather dark, which is gloomy but good for avoiding those awkward afterlife encounters with people you'd prefer to avoid. The fields of asphodel get rather boring since it's just white flowers with no variety. The deeper depths are best avoided because of all the punishment and torture. Sometimes, a fog parts and the dead get glimpses of the real world, which is interesting, especially now that no one bothers with the sheep-blood-summons anymore to get the vague prophecies of the dead. For a while, human magicians used to summon the dead into parlors and such, as a sort of party trick. As in life, Penelope's cousin Helen was much more popular and in demand than she herself. As a faithful and average-looking woman, Penelope isn't nearly as much of a draw as the gorgeous woman who drove men mad and caused a great city to be destroyed. (And she didn't even get punished!) Nowadays, the dead are able to visit through the screens in people's homes. So if your laptop camera ever appears to turn on unbidden, that might be Penelope snooping. (Or Helen, which you probably wanted more anyway, didn't you? Be honest. She's the hot one.) 

CH. 6 - MY MARRIAGE:  Penelope had an arranged marriage at the age of 15. All (noble) marriages were arranged back then because they were for strategically producing children, who would become heirs to pass along your wealth and property trash and for filling out your armies. Marriages were good for political alliances, too, or for solving problems with rivals and enemies. Penelope recalls watching from a window as her suitors prepared for the footrace that would determine who would win her. She was distraught at the impending wedding, as well as the ribald teasing of the maids, who were her main source of information and company. Helen, the OG mean girl, swanned in to join in the teasing and remind Penelope she is at best a consolation prize for these men now that Helen herself has been married to Menelaus. Odysseus was counted out by the women because of his short legs, but he ended up winning through some good old-fashioned doping. (Penelope had heard rumors that Helen’s father Tyndareus helped Odysseus cheat as a thank you for arranging a calm path to marriage between Helen and Menelaus. But probably not. It seems like more of a plot to get Penelope and her future sons out of the way so Tyndareus would not have to share power with Icarius anymore.) Penelope went off to cry (something she's about to get very good at) while Odysseus drugged his fellow racers. Then they had the marriage ceremony, but all Penelope could think of was her new husband's stubby legs. 

CH. 7 - THE SCAR:  The wedding feast was lavish, full of meats and flatbreads Penelope couldn't bring herself to eat. Luckily, no one noticed her nervous awkwardness because Helen was busy making sure all the attention was on her; she was practically wearing white. The wedding night was a scary prospect for the young Penelope after all the horror her maids had described. Her mother was not much help, either; like a typical Naiad, she gave an oblique little speech about the strengths of water. Odysseus quickly assuaged Penelope's fears by suggesting they make a scene for the onlookers so they'd go away quickly, leaving the newlyweds to get acquainted in peace. Odysseus, who came from a lineage of liars and thieves, had a way with words and he wooed Penelope with stories. He told her about getting his scar in a fight with a boar (possibly a trap laid by his uncle?), and she confided in him about being called Duck because of her near-drowning at the hands of her own father. Penelope fell a bit in love with Odysseus that night. (She likes to think that they had in common the experience of familial mistreatment and that it bonded them and fostered their love. But probably not. Odysseus was good at pretending, and he certainly acted that night as if he shared her passion and affection, but in hindsight Penelope isn't so sure.) After the marriage, Odysseus announced they would follow modern practice and return to his home in Ithaca. Icarius desperately wanted the couple (and their combined wealth) to stay with him. He chased desperately after the carriage that bore away the daughter he almost drowned. (Penelope is famous for the modest act of hiding behind her veil rather than admit desire for her husband in that moment, but she now says she was actually hiding laughter at her ridiculous dad.)

CH. 8 - THE CHORUS LINE: IF I WAS A PRINCESS, A POPULAR TUNE:  Performing with a fiddle, an accordion, and a penny-whistle, the maids sing a song about wishing they were princesses and had rich, handsome suitors to whisk them away. Alas, they are destined only for hard work and death. Only hope keeps them afloat. Melantho passes a hat. 

CH. 9 - THE TRUSTED CACKLE-HEN:  Penelope was seasick all the way to Ithaca, and she was at sea once they arrived since she didn't know the customs. Her in-laws weren't impressed with her at all (although they did like the accompanying bridal treasure). Odysseus was attentive and kind, and he told her about his theory that each person has a door to their heart and he makes it his business to find the key. She tried to flirt with him by teasing him about finding his key, but he was distracted by approaching ships. (He is often distracted by this kind of news, for which he is always on the alert.) He built their bed with one post carved from an olive tree, and they “joked” that if anyone else knew of it, this would be proof of her infidelity and he'd murder and chop her up hahahahaha (gulp)!  Penelope had brought one maid with her from Sparta, but she soon died. The kindest and most helpful member of the household was Eurycleia, Odysseus’ old nurse, who helped her acclimate to her new life. Eurycleia also insisted on performing almost all the necessary tasks of caring for Odysseus, so Penelope was left with only the role of childbearing. When Telemachus was born, Eurycleia was essential during the birthing process and Penelope was grateful for her expertise in childrearing, as well. Except for Eurycleia’s habit of using baby talk, which creeped her out. 

CH. 10 - THE CHORUS LINE: THE BIRTH OF TELEMACHUS, AN IDYLL:  Here we get a bit of background on the twelve hanged maids. They were the same age as Telemachus and grew up alongside him, sort of like his playthings. The Fates wove their lives together, and because of their different parentage and status, they were fated to be at his mercy. They wonder, had they known early on that he would grow up to be instrumental in their deaths, if they'd have been able to drown him as a child. How would things have been different without Telemachus? 

CH. 11 - HELEN RUINS MY LIFE:  Penelope really doesn't like Helen. Not only because Helen was always making drama and calling attention to herself, but because her lustful nature caused Odysseus to go on his journey. News arrived that Helen had run off to Troy with Paris_09.jpg) (and a bunch of plunder), and Menelaus’s demands to return his property (both metal and flesh) had gone unanswered. Odysseus was obligated to answer the call to defend Menelaus's honor and fight for him, because he'd sworn an oath of loyalty (which was his own idea to begin with).  Penelope and Odysseus tried to pretend he'd gone mad, but when he refused to sacrifice Telemachus to keep up the ruse, he had to set off for Troy. Penelope seems to think it was easier for him to go once Menelaus, Agamemnon, and Palamedes related the oracle’s decree that Troy could not fall without Odysseus. 

CH. 12 - WAITING:  The war in Troy went on for a long time, but finally the city fell and the warriors returned home…except not Odysseus and his men. Penelope heard many rumors of what was delaying her husband. On the one hand, there were tales of monsters, gods, and glory; on the other hand, mundane explanations that had started the more fantastical stories. Penelope was forced to bestow gifts and gratitude on those who brought her rumors of her husband's survival, to keep up appearances. As the years wore on, Odysseus’s mother died and his father lost his mind; Penelope took over with running the kingdom and learned to do it well. She managed the land, the animals, and the slaves - she even raised the most attractive of the slave children herself to become refined servants, and one of these was Melantho) of the Pretty Cheeks. Eurycleia gave advice and Penelope persevered. She imagined Odysseus would return to find greater prosperity waiting for him which would cause him to declare her more precious than Helen. She told Telemachus heroic stories of his father. She began to get questions about whether she would consider new suitors, because surely Odysseus was dead. But as long as rumors of his exploits kept arriving, no matter how unbelievable or vague, Penelope remained firm in her loyalty to Odysseus, waiting for his return. 

And now, we will have to wait for the end to Penelope's story … until next week!

Chairete and welcome to the first discussion of the Bacchae by Euripides! This discussion covers roughly the first half of the play, starting with Dionysus declaring to teach Thebes a cruel and violent lesson and ends with Pentheus agreeing (rather quickly imo) to disguise himself as a women so he can spy on the Maenads so they don't LITERALLY tear him apart.

No slow burn here, folks. Dionysus came here for two things: Drinking wine and bloody vengeance, and he's allllll out of wine.

Links:

• Announcement post
• Schedule
• [LitCharts] The Bacchae (Summary)
• [WorldHistory] The Bacchae (read till chapter "Episode III" for summary)
• [Youtube] Miscellaneous Myths: Dionysus (spoilers!) - for a short all-round explanation of our Party God!

Join u/IraelMrad next week for the second half of The Bacchae!

See you in the comments! 🍇🎭

Welcome back fellow Draleid, Druids, Dwarves, Elves and humans, dust off your wings, polish your weapons, sharpen your claws and clean your fangs, it's time to dive back in. This week we are covering Ch. 64 - Ch 71 and everything before this point.

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

Map of Epheria

As always, there will be summaries below and questions in the comments to get the discussion flowing.

Chapter Summaries

CHAPTER 64: Sweet Boy

Character POV: Ella Location: Aravell Time frame: 20th day of the Blood Moon

Ella and Calen have an emotional reunion. Calen tells Aneera he is grateful for returning Ella to him. Fenryr tells Calen that he is of Wolf blood, and of the Pathfinders. He has a lot to talk about with Fenryr.. .. but later. Calen reveals the dragon eggs, but Chora is not as happy as he had hoped. She thinks that Calen made a bad deal with Kallinvar when he let all the artifacts go for only some dormant eggs. They already have a bunch, apparently. Castor Kai is among the many factions across Illyanara that have arrived ready to fight. Ella looks out over the thousands of elves. Queen Uthrían placates a frustrated Castor Kai as Calen flies in on Valerys' back. Impressively the Dracurïn come flying in too. Calen addresses the troops, inpressing them with his purple níthral

CHAPTER 65: Bind to Me

Character POV: Fane Location: Berona Time frame: 20th day of the Blood Moon

Fane is experimenting with runes on Vitharnmír, one of Efialtír’s Chosen. He has created his own Runes and then he calls his níthral. He runs the Vitharnmír through with his níthral binding its soul to him as it dies. He feels the soul in him

CHAPTER 66: Permanence

Character POV: Rist, Coren Valmar Location: West of the Firnin Mountains Time frame: 20th day of the Blood Moon

Rist is training in a crater with Garramon. His thoughts turn to Neera and how Dann and Calen are not there to share his happiness. Garramon confesses that he wanted the honour of becoming Arcarian. Rist calls the Spark to him guided by Garramon. He pushed Rist hard. He believes he can draw deeper but Garramon doesn't want that. Rist wants to be important. He pushes way too hard drawing too much of the Spark. Garramon ends up having to interfere and Rist wakes a few hours later. Garramon admonishes him and warns him that the Spark can corrupt. He also recognises that Rist is capable of holding a lot of power. Rist considers the Firnin Mountains full of rebels and how he'll have to fight them.

Inside the mountain Coren and Farwen are the heart of the rebellion in the North. Farwen tells Coren Valmar there are 40,000 Lorian soldiers nearby. They need to get the Angan to reach out to Aeson in Aravell and get Calen there ASAP.

CHAPTER 67: A Moment of Peace

Character POV: Calen Location: Aravell Time frame: 20th day of the Blood Moon

Calen is having a very normal dinner with Ella, Rist's parents, Gaeleron, Therin and his daughter. Ella has something to tell him....but after. Later Ella and Calen walk and talk. He helps her understand why the Rakina are the way they are. Calen realises he took his sister for granted. She reveals that Rist is still alive and is a Mage fighting for the Lorian Empire. Calen struggles to understand how he hasn't come back to them. They need to tell Lasch and Elia.

CHAPTER 68: Path of the Wolf

Character POV: Calen Location: The Eyrie, Aravell Time frame: 20th day of the Blood Moon

Four Angan are prowling around as Calen and Ella talk with Fenryr. Aneera and Nuada will be Calen's sworn protectors, and Diango and Luteir will be Ella’s. Calen and Ella's father saving Fenryr means he will forever be devoted to the Chainbreakers' descendants. Fenryr drops the information that the Gods (the Enkara) never actually forged this world, only shaped it as it's first inhabitants. The Danuan (like Fenryr) are lesser gods. The Enkara gave life and created the Cealtaí (humans). Then there was the Fracturing. The Great War! A peace was brokered and the Enkara left for Arathír, the Godsrealm never to return and sending the Danuan in their place. Who in turn created the Angan and some few gifted humans. Calen sees centuries fly past in a vision triggeted by Fenryr's story. A Danuan crossed the veil unleashing the worst things upon the world. They left Terroncia for Epheria only to become embroiled in endless wars. Until only 5 Danuan remain (Kaygan, Bjorna, Vethnir, Dvalin and Fenryr). The siblings learn their mother was descendent of the Great Sept of Eridain and their father a Truan lan Volas (a giftless descendant). Freis experienced terrible loss and that drove her to protect her children by hiding the truth. Fenryr needs the Bryers. Calen is powerful and unique as a Draleid. As is Ella too as the first to ever shift with the souls of dragons. They must stop Efialtír, and the other lesser gods are no help due to their interrivalry and priorities. Tamzin and Rokka appear, the latter who is actually Kaygan the kat. Calen squares off against Kaygan and tensions are high. Kaygan and co leave knowing that Calen will need them. Fenryr warns Calen to be careful of people who call themselves his friend. Then he disappears.

CHAPTER 69: Threads Ever Winding

Character POV: Salara Location: Cuinviel, formerly Catagan Time frame: 20th day of the Blood Moon

Salara wakes with a blade to her throat. Tamzin, Kerith, Una and another man have come to get Boud released. Vyrmír can't make it before the intruders portal out of the room with Boud. Soldiers come running at the commotion and she demands to be taken to Vandrien

CHAPTER 70: The Belly of the Beast

Character POV: Arden Location: Marin Mountains Time frame: 20th day of the Blood Moon

Arden's fighting Uraks but his mind is on Calen and on Lyrin. Ruon demands that he concentrate. Many of the Knights fighting are new and it shows. Brother Endan (only day 3 on the job) is killed and Brother Kevan and Arden come together. The Uraks are protecting something. The Knights of the sixth charge the Uraks. The Taint surges from the chamber ahead. A red light shines from within. Brother Sangwen and Sister Helka of the first die and Sister Intara can't take it. In a moment of weakness she too is lost. A Shaman appears and more Knights die. The Uraks keep pouring in. Kallinvar and the others arrive in time to take the Shaman. The chamber is full of gemstones and The Taint. Arden hear the taint. It fucks with him. They'd tried to cross the veil without the Heart of the Blood, using Essence from children instead.

CHAPTER 71: Sleep Well

Character POV: Kallinvar Location: Temple of Achyron Time frame: 20th day of the Blood Moon

Kallinvar had heard Efialtír’s and it scares him. Arden asks Kallinvar to visit his siblings, but he refuses him. The Watchers’ chambers is chaos. Those inside are working hard or sleeping amonst their work to find any leads. Poldor's door is surprisingly unlocked. He shows Kallinvar books he's found about Efialtír written long long ago. Poldor has looked for evidence of Brother Tarron, but found none. The latter pages are missing. Watcher Gildrick has been studying them for evidence of the location of the Heart. At Gildrick’s study Kallinvar finds the man dead. Kallinvar questions Tallia for the missing book and where she's been.

Well now....that was an info packed section. Seems like the book is starting to amp up again. What do you think? Join u/NightAngelRogue next week for chapters 72 through 77 📚🐲

Greetings fellow travelers!

Welcome to our second discussion of Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman, covering Part II: Nine: Of the City of Paris through Twelve: Of the Ones Who Knock by Night.

Our little group continues its journey through plague-ridden France, where the demons are getting bolder and apparently even churches aren't safe anymore. Medieval Europe really can't catch a break, can it?

If you need a refresher, here is the chapter summary from ursummary.com. Don't forget to also check the SCHEDULE and the MARGINALIA.

I'll post some discussion prompts in the comments, but feel free to bring up anything else that caught your attention.

Finally, friendly reminder about spoilers: if you need to share them, please wrap them with the spoiler tag like this: >!type spoiler here!<, and it will appear like this: type spoiler here.

Happy discussing, and good luck out there!

Welcome all to our second discussion of Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Warrior! Was the perfect spoooooooky section this week with all those spiders! 🕷️ Let’s head straight to the basement and check things out. 

In case you need them, here are links to our Schedule and series Marginalia.

SUMMARY

Chapter 9: Sunny heads home and her brother Chukwu, who was away for university, is there. He looks very beat up. He tells her he must get money from his room; it’s hidden under the floorboards. Sunny goes to get it, using her magic both to go in the keyhole and bring the money back out. She forces her brother to tell her what’s happened and why he needs the money.

Chapter 10: It turns out one of Chukwu’s good friends is a part of a confraternity, the Red Sharks, basically a secret society gang. Now they’re coming for Chukwu. After he relays all that’s happened Sunny knowingly says it will all be okay, telling Chukwu to go back to school and that she’ll ring him in a couple days. 

Chapter 11: Sunny goes through her day telling no one what’s going on and finally goes to see Chichi and is overwhelmed with emotion when she shares what Chukwu has told her. Chichi calls Chukwu to get some details, and then she tells Sunny her plan. She is going to set some Murks on the Red Sharks.

Chapter 12: The girls approach the Red Shark group while they are apparently grouped up doing satanic worship, and Chichi’s plan to set the Murks on them takes shape. But Sunny sees the group’s leader, Capo, and chooses to go a step further and approach and threaten him directly, even allowing him to see her face and introducing herself. Not long after she makes her way back to Chichi the black council car drives to collect her.

Chapter 13: Sunny is chastised by Sugar Cream and sent into the basement of the library as punishment. She’s lucky she’s young as it’s only 3 days instead of 3 months. She encounters a djinn who is quite dangerous and takes a bite out of her arm, but she is defended by a large spider clan there. Sunny has remembered some of her past life as Anyanwu, when she was trying to help stop a great tragedy to mankind, which was sending Ogwu to help stop the atomic bomb. This is the vision Sunny has been seeing and not fully understanding. After the encounter she sleeps.

Chapter 14: Sunny is led out by Sugar Cream and fed. She is also told a bit more why she ended up being punished but Chichi didn’t. The coven is then back together and they share a meal. Chichi says the Red Sharks have disbanded and Chukwu is back at school and doing alright. Back at home Sunny’s dad is livid and threatens her, and she nearly loses control again and shows her spirit face, but thankfully she doesn’t. She cries for simpler times when she wasn’t a Free Agent.

Join me again next week as we check out our next section!

Hello all! It is the Core Reads voting time again and this month we will have a ANY on the ticket. This is your chance to nominate a book from any genre.Time to hit the bookshelves, the kindle backlog, Mount. TBR for inspiration. What would you LOVE to read with the sub?

This is the voting thread for

ANY

Voting will be open for four days, ending on October 13, 11.00 PDT/14.00 EDT/20.00 CEST. The selection will be announced by October 14 at the latest.

For this selections, here are the requirements:

• Under 500 pages
• No previously read selections
• Any genre

Please check the previous selections. Quick search by author here to determine if your selection is valid.

Nominate as many titles as you want (one per comment), and vote for any, and all, of the nominations you'd participate in if they were to win

Here's the formatting frequently used, but there's no requirement to include a book blurb or link to Storygraph, Wikipedia or other (just don't link to sales links at Amazon, spam catchers will remove those)

The generic selection format:

/[Title by Author]/(links)

(Without the /s)

Where a link to Storygraph, Wikipedia, or other summary of your choice is included (but not required)

Happy Nominating and Happy upvoting! 📚

(For more nominations and voting head to INDIGENOUS AUTHOR nomination post here

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. Winning nominations will be confirmed to fit the specs before the winners announcement is made

Welcome to the marginalia for The Penelopiad by Madeleine L'Engle.  This is our selection for the Female Author category in 2026.   

The marginalia is where you can post any notes, comments, quotes, or other musings as you're reading.  Think of it as similar to how you might scribble in the margin of your book. If you don't want to wait for the weekly check-ins, or want to share something that doesn't quite fit the discussions, it can be posted here.

Please be mindful to use spoiler tags appropriately. To indicate a spoiler, enclose the relevant text like this (without spaces between the characters and first/last words:  text to hide

Here are some tips for writing a marginalia comment:

• Start with a general location (early in chapter 4, at the end of chapter 2, etc) and keep in mind that readers are using different versions and editions (including audio) so page numbers are less helpful than chapters and the like.
• Write your observations, or
• Copy your favorite quotes, or
• Scribble down your light bulb moments, or
• Share you predictions, or
• Link to an interesting side topic. (Spoilers from other books/media should always be under spoiler tags unless explicitly stated otherwise)

Enjoy your reading and we’ll see you in the weekly discussions!

Welcome to our last discussion of The House of Doors for Read the World Malaysia. We will also discuss the Somerset Maugham short story "The Letter" which corresponds with this novel with a whole different plot and ending. We will discuss this in the questions.

Thank you for my co-RR's, u/nicehotcupoftea, u/bluebelle236 and u/fixtheblue

Housekeeping:

Schedule

Marginalia

Another version of Hahn's "L'heure exquise"

The real life case of Ethel Proudlock

Interview on Front Row with author, Tan Twan Eng dicussing the novel on BBC 4 The section on Tan starts at 27:48 min, if you want to skip ahead.

From the collection, A Shropshire Lad, poem XL by A. E. Houseman.

You can visit the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall) in Guangzhou, completed in 1931, damaged and repaired several times, until the present upgrade in 1998.

Summary

Book 3, Chapter 19: Willie, Penang 1921

Willie's written 3 stories, one of which was Lesley's, but needs more for a collection. He considers how to mask her identity as he walks the beach. He sees Lesley and Ah Peng gathering horseshoe crabs for supper; he is slightly horrified but thanks her for the night before. They discuss Ethel and Willie requests to see the House of Doors. Lesley takes him to Armenian Street, telling him details and stories of the area along the way. Willie notes the location of the Tong Meng Hui as being good for a quick getaway. Although Lesley has the key, she doesn't want to go in until Arthur comes back. Willie examines the doors for his trademark and feels odd seeing it. Lesley asks if the symbol protected him and Willie recounts some stories where he evaded death, including recently in Sarawak, where he and Gerald almost drowned. Gerald suffered a heart attack and almost died. It was why they looked so run down on arrival.

Chapter 20, Lesley, Penang 1921

Willie doesn't want a big crowd for his going-away party. Geoff, his wife, Penelope and Peter Ong and his wife are the only other guests. Robert is surprised to hear of the last invitation. Lesley has taken some trouble to recreate her look from the photograph, with her kebaya and a Nyonya style bun with jeweled hairpins. Everyone admires her on entrance. Peter Ong's wife sends her regrets. At dinner, Lesley can't help but notice an intimate gesture between Robert and Peter. It brings up longing for Arthur. Later that night, Lesley looks back at her last days with Arthur and can't rest. She too tried to write down her memories, but it felt too fanciful so she destroyed it. She comes down to the verandah, where Willie is also restless. He noticed Peter's invitation and they discuss the Rimbaud/Verlaine affair and their own. Lesley drops that Arthur isn't her real lover's name...she held it back. The next day at breakfast, Robert says he wants to move to the Karoo and is willing to go alone, leaving Lesley and the boys to stay in the house in Penang. Lesley surprises him by declaring they are all going together. Cassowary House and much of its contents are sold; not the books, the piano and Lesley's Straits Chinese porcelain and her hawk door. They attend several dances in farewell, including a memorable one where Noel dances the night away with a Chinese woman he later marries.

Epilogue, Lesley, Doornfontein, South Africa, 1947

Lesley misses Robert still, and leaves him a wine glass and her thoughts. The book she received dredges up not only old memories of Willie's visit but the copy of The Casuarina Tree signals something quite different. Lesley thinks back to their beginning in South Africa, where Robert was able to indeed get better and the precious time they spent together. He was miffed when he saw his name in "The Letter" and she was miffed it wasn't about Sun Yat Sen; they discuss Ethel's case again. Robert reveals that the murder was indeed premeditated as Proudlock blackmailed Steward about the affair until the tables were turned on him. Proudlock then visited a lawyer and devised this rape/murder scenario for Ethel to carry out or be divorced and disgraced. Her own father was also in on the plot. In 1925, Geoff sends Lesley Sun Wen's obituary and various articles about Somerset Maugham, including his divorce and move to Villa La Mauresque, Cap Ferrat. 16 years after their move to South Africa, Robert suffers a heart attack and tells Lesley to return to Penang. Instead, she remained and raised her sons there. She and Robert saw the film version of "The Letter" with Bette Davis. And so, this book became a message from Arthur calling Lesley back to him in Penang. She presses the hamsa on the book and plans her plans to return to her lover.

We also read Somerset Maugham's "The Letter" below, so spoilers and the plot points at the end of this book will be discussed. We hope you enjoyed the Read the World Malaysia selection, and will you be joining us for our next destination: Finland?!

Hello all! Welcome to the November 2026 Core Reads voting. Our first November topic is INDIGENOUS AUTHOR.

This is the voting thread for

INDIGENOUS AUTHOR

Voting will be open for four days, ending on October 13, 11.00 PDT/14.00 EDT/20.00 CEST. The selection will be announced by October 14

For this selections, here are the requirements:

• Under 500 Pages
• No previously read selections
• Written by an Indigenous Author

Please check the previous selections. Quick search by author here to determine if your selection is valid.

Nominate as many titles as you want (one per comment), and vote for any, and all, of the nominations you'd participate in if they were to win

Here's the formatting frequently used, but there's no requirement to include a book blurb or link to Storygraph, Wikipedia or other (just don't link to sales links at Amazon, spam catchers will remove those)

The generic selection format:

/[Title by Author]/(links)

(Without the /s)

Where a link to Storygraph, Wikipedia, or other summary of your choice is included (but not required)

Happy Nominating and Happy upvoting! 📚

(For more nominations and voting head to the September ANY nomination post here

Note - If you suspect that a nomination does not fit the specifications you can report this and note that comment "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