I've just finished reading the most recent Frederik Backman book. It's every bit as heartwarming and delightful as all of his others.

Sometimes it's nice to have saccharine sweet and heartbreak. It reminds us we're human.

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/my-friends-fredrik-backman/6b001f077fb44819?ean=9781398516434&bkshp-astro=t

If you're not familiar with Frederik Backman, then go and read everything he's published, starting with A Man Called Ove. And also the Beartown trilogy. And Anxious People. And Britt-Marie Was Here.

Just read his books.

#Bookstodon

GIFs became a defining part of the early web, including the ubiquitous “under construction” signs that marked unfinished pages. JD Shadel looks at what these fleeting images can teach us about preserving digital culture before it disappears.

📚 Read 'What Early Internet Era GIFs Show Us About Preserving Digital Culture' in VANISHING CULTURE from the Internet Archive
📖 Download & read, FREE: https://archive.org/details/vanishing-culture-2026/page/159/

#Bookstodon #VanishingCulture #DigitalMemory #InternetArchive

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Quote tile with a light grey background and black text. Headline reads: "What can an old GIF teach us about preserving digital culture?" Quote below reads: "As with a lot of things on the web, GIFs were everywhere until the moment they weren't." Attributed to JD Shadel, Writer & Editorial Director. Vanishing Culture logo in the corner.

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Quote tile with a teal background and black text. Quote reads: "Early GIFs off GeoCities websites are really only accessible thanks to the work of the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine and the GifCities search engine." Attributed to JD Shadel, Writer & Editorial Director. Vanishing Culture logo in the corner.

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Quote tile with an orange background and black text. Quote reads: "This is, after all, the ephemeral truth of the Internet: if you don't save it, even if it seems like it's everywhere momentarily, it will just as quickly disappear." Attributed to JD Shadel, Writer & Editorial Director. Vanishing Culture logo in the corner.

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Book cover titled “Vanishing Culture” on a teal background. Pixel-art style graphics show a VHS tape, open book, film reel, chain link, and vinyl record dissolving into digital fragments. At the bottom, a cursor icon points to the word “SAVE,” alongside an archive-style building icon, evoking digital preservation.

Early morning autumn sunlight through the bookshop window, a little tranquil moment before opening.

.

#Bruntsfield #Edinburgh #Edimbourg #photography #photographie #bookshop #librairie #bookstodon

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Looking from the back of the bookshop, along the shelf lined wall, to the large, plate glass window letting early morning light in

A little cheery news for this wet Tuesday morning.

Whether it be War and Peace or The Very Hungry Caterpillar, according to a study from the University of Cambridge, regardless of “what or how we read”, sitting down with a book is linked to improved health and problem solving. Benefits include lowering stress and reducing the risk of dementia, and span all types of reading, from comic books to classic novels or hefty non-fiction tomes.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/reading-and-associations-with-brain-health-cognition-wellbeing-and-mental-health/1A3565FA61831A975813113DE1AB2B09

#Reading #Bookstodon #GoodNews

How come you didn't tell me about Tana French? Holy shit, she's brilliant. I'm listening to The Hunter on audiobook, and I'm blown away.

Shame on you for not telling me about her.

#books #bookstodon

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Cover of the audiobook for Tana French's The Hunter. It's got a silhouette of what looks like a cowboy against an orange background

Book 13 was Spirited Situation by Louisa Masters (narrated by Nick J. Russo).

He can see dead people 👻
One night hookup 🔥
But now they work together 😬
Oh, and there’sa hellmouth in the basement 🕳️

#KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/spirited-situation

#bookstodon

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Spirited Situation by Louisa Masters (narrated by Nick J. Russo).

Book 12 was How Migration Really Works: 22 Things You Need to Know about the Most Divisive Issue in Politics by Hein de Haas (narrated by Matthew Spencer).

Starts out by saying that being pro- or anti-immigration is on par with being for or against the economy. Then presents dozens of positives about immigration, a few neutral points, and a few things that could work better.

#bookstodon

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How Migration Really Works: 22 Things You Need to Know about the Most Divisive Issue in Politics Hein de Haas (narrated by Matthew Spencer).

"Toft had never been in Moominvalley, but he didn't get lost. It wasn't raining at the moment but the forest was covered in mist and looked very beautiful. Everywhere there were deep pools and hundreds of streams and waterfalls.

Toft walked as quietly as he could and very slowly. Moominvalley was very near now. He walked even more quietly, his paws hardly touching the mossy ground. He listened.

It was Moominpappa, chopping wood for the winter."

#MoominMonday #BeMoreMoomin #Bookstodon

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Black and white pencil sketch from Moominvalley in November, shows tiny Toft walking through a huge forest.

I'm pretty sure that's not what the Doctor meant...

But would I watch Doctor Who with John Wick as the companion? 🤔
Hell yes I would 😂

(No one had better do anything to K9) 😊

@DrWho@fedigroups.social
@tvshow
@reading @bookstodon @books
@humor@fedigroups.social @humor@lemmy.world @aiop

#GeekMemes #Geek #Meme #Humor #Humour #Funny
#SciFi #TV #Movies #DoctorWho #JohnWick
#Reading #Readers #ReadingCommunity #Bookstodon #FantasyBooks

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Two photo meme 1: A quote on a wall, "You want weapons? We're in a library! Books! The best weapons in the world! -Doctor Who" 2: Photo of John Wick using a book to split someone's skull open.

Book 11 was To Catch a Flieff, written and read by Julia Rios.

Cosy sci-fi sapphic romance 💕 🚀
Cute cat 🐈
Christmas (sort of) 🎄
Inclusive cast 🏳️‍🌈
Just really sweet 🍬

#KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/to-catch-a-flieff-1

#bookstodon #QueerBooks

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To Catch a Flieff, written and read by Julia Rios.

Book 10 was A Pale Light in the Black by K.B. Wagers (narrated by Marisha Tapera).

Mil sci-fi with a liberal dash of pansexual sports romance – think the Expanse meets Heated Rivalry without the spice. 🚀🪐🏅

#bookstodon #QueerBooks

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A Pale Light in the Black by K.B. Wagers (narrated by Marisha Tapera). My listening supports The Portal Bookshop Libro.fm

Ancora una volta il Principe si trovò di fronte a uno degli enigmi siciliani.
In questa isola segreta dove le case sono sbarrate e i contadini dicono di ignorare la via per andare al paese nel quale vivono e che si vede lì sul colle a dieci minuti di strada, in quest'isola, malgrado l'ostentato lusso di mistero, la riservatezza è un mito.

[Il Gattopardo - Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa]

#bookstodon #libri #lettura #IlGattopardo #TheLeopard

"Per il Re, certo, ma per quale Re?". Il ragazzo ebbe una di quelle sue crisi di serietà che lo rendevano impenetrabile e caro. "Se non ci siamo anche noi, quelli ti combinano la repubblica. Se vogliamo che tutto rimanga come è, bisogna che tutto cambi. Mi sono spiegato?"

[Il Gattopardo - Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa]

#bookstodon #libri #lettura #IlGattopardo #TheLeopard

Pssst! Do you like books? What about when they’re queer? What if they’re free?

https://books.bookfunnel.com/lgbtqnewslettergiveaway/wpk6n8vens

#bookstodon #queerbookstagram

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An urban scene with picture frames containing five of the books available in this giveaway.

#ReadingNotes thread for 2026, part III!

In which I attempt to corral my reading notes in a single thread -- hopefully for the last time this year.

So first sentences, running commentary, etc. will be posted as responses to this thread.

Previous threads for 2026 were disrupted by my move to a new instance but can be found here:

Part I: https://techhub.social/@NearerAndFarther/115825883230835771

Part II: https://bookstodon.com/@NearerAndFarther/116721345848279855

#Bookstodon

"On a June afternoon in 2015, I climbed into the old Saab of Anton Eliassen, the director of the Norwegian weather service, known as the Meteorological Institute, and drove up a mountain above Oslo to a restaurant in a century-old wooden lodge."

-- First sentence of Andrew Blum's The Weather Machine: A Journey Inside the Forecast (2019)

Started last night. #ReadingNotes will go here.

#AndrewBlum #TheWeatherMachine #Bookstodon #NowReading

Looking for a #solarpunk book? Here's a review of The Blossoming of the Big Tree, the story of a grandma who coordinates the defense of her decentralized country when a colonizer invades.

“This was a very interesting novella. Science fiction that presents a new world always is… All in all: If Dilman Dila’s goal was to create an interesting and engaging world, then he definitely succeeded.” Limfic review.

Read sample chapter https://www.ododopress.com/novellas/the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree/

#books #bookstodon #sff #scifi #amreading

The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett. This is more like it! A prequel to TPotE series, we see King's Bridge develop and get its name, against the usual backdrop of villainous clerics and nobles vying with our hero and heroine Edgar, who becomes the stonemason, and Ragna, who marries into the ealdorman's scheming family, all supported by Aldred the good monk. The usual creative political solutions together with prime KF rip-roaring story telling.

#13 🧵 #books #bookstodon

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A chunky paperback with a red cover decorated with faint illuminated manuscript, and a Sutton Hoo-esque helmet in gold.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. At the moment of her death, Nora is transported to the library that holds books about the millions of lives she's living in parallel universes. Nora tries out as many lives as she needs to realise her regrets weren't based in reality. It's an interesting idea, raising some philosophical questions. Well written, readable rather than gripping. I'm told there's a sequel on the way. I hope it resurrects Mrs Elm.

#14 🧵 #books #bookstodon

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Hardback novel with a starry midnight blue cover, title and author's name in white. In the centre is a stylised building with its roof opened like the flaps of a box. It shows rainbow colours inside, and a white cat walks towards it.

Nonesuch by Francis Spufford. Francis Spufford never disappoints. This book sound bonkers - wartime finance, magical realism, early adventures in TV, a spiky love story - but it comes together in a page-turning adventure.

Iris Hawkins, City clerk, has ambitions and likes her flings on her terms. One night she leaves with Geoff Hale just to annoy Lady Lall who doesn't want him but likes his adoration. Iris could never have imagined what form Lall's revenge would take.

🧵15 #bookstodon #books

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Purply swirly cover with title and author in gold. Fan in the background because is it ever hot.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. I've just sat and read this in one go, having picked it up from the library this morning. I've never read a graphic novel before but loved it as a format.

At age 10 Marjane abruptly has to wear a veil and try to understand the changes happening in her country, Iran. The next few years bring unimaginably brutal change to Iran, during which time Marjane is sent abroad to continue her education in safety, but it doesn't go to plan.

🧵16 #books #bookstodon

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Paperback cover framed in black with a cartoon-style drawing of Marjane Satrapi and her family partially covered by a large cartoon drawing of Marjane in profile.

Action at a Distance by Ben Aaronovitch et al, the first of the #RiversOfLondon graphic novels in terms of when the action's set (some short stories and novellas are set earlier). Only my second ever graphic novel read, and a continuation of my determination to read everything in the RoL canon.

An old friend of Nightingale's has died, which brings back events from the 50s when Nightingale's help was needed with a post-war German working in Britain's nuclear industry.

🧵20 #books #bookstodon

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Composite grey cover showing Peter's face in the background with a shiny WWII aeroplane superimposed and heading straight for you. Lettering in white.

Tales from the Folly by Ben Aaronovitch. This is a series of short stories in the #RiversOfLondon canon, many of which were commissioned by Waterstones to go alongside a new book coming out or a big event, such as the 2012 Olympics. This brings them all together with an introduction to each by Ben Aaronovitch. They vary from a page to quite long and are as always imaginative and surprising. I read it as an #ebook.

🧵21 #books #bookstodon

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Pale biscuity cover showing an annotated architectural plan of the Folly. The title is in red with the author's name in white across the top.

Body Work by Ben Aaronovitch et al, first of the main run of #RiversOfLondon graphic novels, set mainly modern day. A car runs amok in a wrecking yard. What is the connection to a witch ducking and a drug dealer? Nightingale has a good idea what's going on. If you've ever wondered about the haunted Bentley that's mentioned in the novels from time to time this will explain it. Bought this morning from Waterstones on Argyle St #Glasgow and was I pleased with my purchase 😄

🧵22 #books #bookstodon

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A dark cover with a car facing out and glowing demonic red, sitting above a map of London. Title and authors in white lettering.

On Sheep, Diary of a Swedish Shepherd by Axel Lindén, my library bingo pick for non-fiction book. The reviews are all over this so maybe I was missing something. I thought I'd really enjoy it but I found it rather flat. Maybe something was lost in translation or perhaps I don't get the Scandi pysche. This account of moving to AL's parents' farm as an antidote to city life is written as (mostly) short diary entries which are interesting but bleak.

🧵23 #books #bookstodon #sheepstodon

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Photographic book cover showing a small red single storey house with grey corrugated roof, in a field of long grass, a hedge in the background and a blue-grey sky. The title and author are in large clear grey and red letters, with a quote from the Observer likening the author to James Heriot.

Night Witch by Ben Aaronovitch et al, which comes after Body Work in the #RiversOfLondon graphic novel sequence. Varvara Sidorovna Tamonina was one of the Soviet army's Night Witches. How can she help when a young girl goes missing in Kent? And how is that connected to the men meekly cleaning up Beverley's house? If you've ever wondered where Maksim sprung from this will answer your questions. And why and how is Molly making liver flavoured ice cream?

🧵24 #books #bookstodon #RiversOfLondon

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A grey cover in the style of Russian 1930s bas-relief bombastic propaganda with bullet marks. Grant and Nightingale are in front of the streaming hair of a woman in profile who is several times bigger then them. She's holding a gun. Toby walks in front. Rivers of London is in the usual flowing font and is in white, along with the novel title and authors.

Black Mould by Ben Aaronovitch et al, which comes after Night Witch in the #RiversOfLondon graphic novel sequence. Guleed checks in on a friend and is swiftly beseiged by a fast growing black mould that can assume human shape and drives people out of their homes. What has this to do with swanky new build flats, an old dear in a nursing home and a jazz guitarist from the 50s? Featuring a welcome if brief return to Herefordshire, Peter & co investigate.

🧵25 #books #bookstodon #RiversOfLondon

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Ghostbusters homage style cover, depicting Peter and Sahra in noddy suits and wielding sprayers, in front of a red circle with a diagonal line through it, ie a stop or no entry symbol, with a giant pink mushroom looming behind them. Rivers of London is in its usual flowing white font and the novel title and authors are in white.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson, my library bingo pick for book chosen just for the cover. I was expecting a fluffy read but this had much more going for it than that. Its main focus is the post-WWI tension around women's roles and expectations, centred on two women, one who expects to support herself as a governess or paid companion and another much more privileged but wanting to ride a motorbike and fly, against society's mores.

🧵26 #books #bookstodon

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A colourful stylised scene of a red biplane flying over the coast under blue sky, being watched by two people in a yellow motorbike and sidecar stopped on a headland. The title is in red joined up font and the author's name in a similar, smaller, white font. The biplane tows a small banner with a quote from a reviewer 'An absolute joy of a book Ann Napolitano'

Albatross by Evelyn Anthony, 3rd in the Davina Graham books and a welcome return to form after the disappointment of The Avenue of the Dead. Set against early 80s Cold War, Davina Graham must use jailed traitor Peter Harrington to root out a Moscow mole at the highest levels of SIS, one of whom has close ties to her family, another of whom is responsible for the death of her husband. But Moscow is trying to get to Harrington first. Who is Albatross and who will win?

🧵27 #books #bookstodon

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A hardback cover, black background with the title in large gold capitals filling the width of the book. Underneath is a large union jack with an outline albatross superimposed following the lines of the St George's Cross. Author's name in gold and previous titles in white underneath the flag.

When I First Held You by Anstey Harris. I picked this up as it has a #Glasgow connection. It focuses on Judith, who has to give up her baby in the 60s, following a relationship with a man who was a fellow part of a group protesting against Faslane. We meet her in the modern day, widowed and hugely affected by events of the 60s but also very much making a life for herself when the legacy of those days comes roaring back, bringing joy, doubt and pain.

🧵28 #books #bookstodon

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A paperback cover with a large abstract mosaic-type pattern in shades of blue with gold borders. The author's name is across the top in small gold capitals, the book title is offset down the cover in larger white capitals. There is a small review bottom left 'Gripping, heart-rending and extremely satisfying - Katie Fforde'

The next four #RiversOfLondon graphic novels by Ben Aaronovitch et al: Detective Stories, Cry Fox, Water Weed, and The Fey and the Furious. DS, a collection of four short investigations, is the weakest by some way but the rest are good. Drawing out minor characters, filling in Nightingale's past and taking Peter on solo adventures, we meet more weird and wonderful characters and run with them.

🧵29-32 #books #bookstodon

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A hand drawn cover in muted shades showing L-R a young woman in a hijab, a young mixed-race man with his hands to his white shirt collar, in the background a woman in maid's uniform, and a middle-aged man in a smart suit, white shirt and cravat, against a stylised outline drawing of a London street. L-R Sahra Guleed, Peter Grant, Molly, Thomas Nightingale.

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A dark cover showing a scary fox face with glowing green eyes and blood dripping from its open mouth onto a map of London.

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A purple cover with different colour paint spatters, showing two young women in purple wetsuits, holding guns and 3/4 turned away from each other. They have disturbing skull-like face paint.

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A cover showing an ethereal woman facing to the right, with flowing hair and robes floating around her, in pale greeny-blue tones with some red through the middle and misty red cars in the background. She's wearing a plunging and fitted blue-green dress with a small floral pattern through it, has her right hand on her hip and is holding a flagpole in her left hand.

More Days at the Torunka Café by Satoshi Yagisawa tr Eric Ozawa. Sequel to DATTC, which I didn't realise. Three stories of the human condition, linked by the protagonists all being café customers. The author creates a convincing and appealing atmosphere in the café but I felt the stories were a bit trite and simplistic, but I was reading in translation and although I've been to #Japan twice and love the culture, I might well have been missing something you can't translate

🧵33 #books #bookstodon

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A beautiful illustrated cover in autumnal tones depicting a woman with short black hair standing behind the counter wearing a dark apron and pouring a cup of coffee. A grey-haired woman in pink sits at the counter knitting something blue. There are two empty wooden stools next to her and bookshelves each side of the counter. A ginger cat and a tabby relax on the floor, the tabby pawing at the skein of blue yarn, and behind the whole scene is a huge paper screen or window. There are pictures on the wall, ornaments and general comforting clutter.

#LunchtimeReading : The Shape of Monsters, by my chum @clhellisen , coming 24th September from @torbooks .

I have to be nice about this book, or Cat will beat me fiercely with her ice skates ⛸️

#books #Fantasy #livres #bookstodon #CLHellisen #TheShapeOfMonsters

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Advance proof copy of The Shape of Monsters, a green cover with an antlered animal head at the bottom

“You keep asking why your work is not enough, and I don’t know how to answer that, because it is enough to exist in the world and marvel at it. You don’t need to justify that, or earn it. You are allowed to just live.”

#Books
#Fredagsbog
#Bookstodon

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Short version: slim hardback edition of A Psalm for The Wild-Built by Becky Chambers, on a brown table, spine of a notebook nearby. Fuller description: Title and author name in pale yellow block letters, artistic font with letters different sizes and widths. Background: a pretty illustration in autumnal colours of a brown dirt road winding through a stylised forest of yellow and brown and red and green leaves. Bottom right: a figure of a young person with a cup of steaming tea (I know it’s tea because it’s relevant in the book) perced on the edge of a wagon. Above left, a humanoid-shaped robot, gesturing as if inviting you to join it or showing you the way. Other text: A Monk And Robot Book. Hugo Award Winner. Praise quote from Martha Wells: ‘An optimistic vision of a lush, beautiful world.’

'Nobody should be barred from necessities or comforts just because they don’t have the right number next to their name.'

#Books
#Bookstodon
#Fredagsbog

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Short version: slim hardback library edition of A Prayer For The Crown-shy by Becky Chambers. Fuller description: Title in dark blue, author name in white block letters, artistic font with letters different sizes and widths. Background: a pretty illustration in pale vernal colours of a white road winding through a stylised landscape of flowers and grass and low hills. Above, pale sky woth what look like glittery baubles hanging down. Bottom right: a figure of a young person driving a picturesque old wagon.

Free queer non-romantic books!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/lgbtqbooks/yku9j1xynw
#bookstodon #queerbooks

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Image of a dog sitting on a stack of books against an urban background. Text reads: LGBTQIA+giveaway

Finally reading A Memory Called Empire and really enjoying it https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/8d52064b-1906-45f8-954a-97c21146b853 #reading #bookstodon

Book 9 was The Best Distraction by D.C. Emerson.

Former hot mess couple 🫟
Fake dating 🩷
As a distraction 🔭
Help! They’re catching feelings!
Trans queer neurospicy rep 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🦄🌶️

Get it free with subscription: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/jiqrvex30v

#bookstodon #QueerBooks

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The Best Distraction by D.C. Emerson.

Does anyone have a list of book blogs, legit book reviewers, book magazines, and such places a Mastodontian author could get visibility for their book?

Speaking for myself and other indies that could use the boost, since many of us have left META and need new ways to share the exitement of new releases. (:

#Book #Books #List #Lists #blog #bookblog #bookish #bookstodon #magazine #bookreview #bookreviewer #indieauthor #author #news

Book 8 was Resisting You by E.M. Lindsey (narrated by Kirt Graves).

Everyone knows he’s a slut … but he’s secretly celibate ❌🍆
Enemies to lovers 🩷
Hurt / comfort … now with added pranks ☕️
Disability rep 🦻

#KoboPlus: https://www.kobo.com/en/audiobook/resisting-you-1

#bookstodon #QueerBooks

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Resisting You by E.M. Lindsey (narrated by Kirt Graves).

Book 16 was The Last Bookstore On Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold (narrated by Bailey Carr).

After the world ends, Liz carries on at a bookshop. The odd person comes in for new books, trading goods or news, occasionally sharing their own stories.

Review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/42b4a4db-9de2-435a-b4a7-b58c92d02063

#bookstodon #lgbtbooks

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The Last Bookstore On Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold (narrated by Bailey Carr)