hi :D

when i say 'lately' i mean 'the last couple months' because i was too tired and disinterested in everythinggg to read at the beginning of the school year

beloved by toni morrison-

toni morrison has two incredible talents: summoning incredibly beautiful, visceral, descriptive language to paint an alluring and oftentimes painful scene, and creating a story that can absolutely destroy my heart. this is the second morrison book i've read and i WILL be reading more.

though beloved was deeply crushing, i could not recommend it more. it is a sad book, but not a hopeless book. it contains trauma, but it is not trauma porn. it contains content that could define it as fantasy, but it is nothing if not brutally real. beloved is composed of fragmented moments, some mundane, some devastating, some wonderful. i read it a couple months ago and it comes clearly to mind as faded photographs, with characters i feel close to, as i have witnessed their memories, hopes, and fears so vividly i could almost see the dust motes floating through the air. 

the lord of the rings by j.r.r. tolkien-

i mean. what can i say about lotr that hasn't already been said? nothing in 70 years, so i will just gush about how much i loved it. tolkien is a master of descriptive writing, and we all know that he pretty much pioneered modern high fantasy. his vast imagination not only compelled me to read more high fantasy, but lent me insight into worldbuilding that is helping me build more cohesive cultures in my own fantasy novel. and got me into conlanging! vo dzenu fia*, tolkien!!

of course, the characters were ultimately my favourite thing about lotr. their relationships were heartwarming and heartwrenching. my favourite characters are sam, legolas, eowyn, and faramir, but there are so few characters i can say i don't like. it was also so funny, and now i can't stop telling my movie-watching loved ones that legolas is actually so unserious in the books, and indeed fell out of a tree in one scene.

neverwhere by neil gaiman-

words cannot articulate how much i DESPISE neil gaiman for the terrible things he's done. i love his books so much and i have read them all, but never let it be said that i support neil gaiman in any way. he was one of my all-time favourite authors and that makes my hatred for him so much worse, after his actions were revealed.

that being said, neverwhere changed me. i loved the characters dearly - marquis de carabas, i adore you. no spoilers, but the villain reveal gave me actual chills. a super interesting take on a villain with weird morals. the writing style continues to be one of my favourites and an inspiration to my own work. there is such a strong sense of longing, and magic, and dissatisfaction with one's life that permeates the text. it aligns so well with richard's arc. richard did not stand out to me as much as some other gaiman protagonists (cough cough shadow) but i still felt him on every page. also love how the whole book could be taken as a queer analogy.

assassin's apprentice by robin hobb-

i just finished assassin's apprentice, the first book in a 16-book series! i don't read a lot of high fantasy, but i am so excited to continue reading realm of the elderlings. fitz is a brilliant main character with a strong narrative voice. he is so likeable and complex, and the intimate writing style helps you feel like you are in his head the whole time. i really enjoyed all the characters (i need more of the fool!) and the worldbuilding, although i fear any story world falls a bit flat after reading lord of the rings. 

the plot is one of the best features of this book. hobb weaved different plotlines, motivations, and dangling threads together so perfectly, that i left this book both satisfied and excited to see how unresolved plots would be tied up. i've heard it said that the first two books in the farseer trilogy are a bit slow, and i can see that for royal assassin (which i'm currently reading) but i felt engaged in assassin's apprentice the whole way through.

have you read any good books lately? tell me your thoughts and recommendations!! also, i'd love to make friends who have read realm of the elderlings. i have an irl friend who loves the books but i need more people to share in the emotional journey i am sure i will be going on

*'i love you' in my conlang thalakathim :)