Welcome back all to our third discussion of Nnedi Okorafor’s Akata Warrior! Road trip! How do we think things with the group are shaping up? Let’s get right to it!

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

SUMMARY

Chapter 15: Anatov tells the group that tonight’s lessons will be important. He takes Sunny aside first and blows juju powder on her. A green-tinged version of her remains behind. He explains it’s like salt on the body after an ocean swim, and it’s from traversing the wilderness. She feels lighter now. The group learns specific juju to be used on Lambs only. It requires its own kind of juju powder, which they have to obtain. On the bridge to Leopard Knocks Sunny encounters the river beast, who sort of pulls her into the river’s grasp, having sided with Ekwensu and taunting Sunny’s spirit, Anyanwu. Sunny makes it out but now can’t call her spirit face to cross the bridge. They head to a Chinese restaurant for some food. The group tries to help Sunny and she reveals the truth she’s learned about her past and spirit self. Chatting away Chichi gives up that she’s been seeing Chukwu and Sasha suddenly gets upset. Orlu takes him away to go home and Sunny and Chichi chat separately. Chichi is between two boys. Chichi tells Sunny they’ll go see Bola on Saturday. Bola is a Mami Wata worshipper. When Sunny gets home she tries the bug juju she learned and it doesn’t work. Who is she now?

Chapter 16: Sunny’s dad is watching the news where they are covering an oil spill. It’s very bad. They interview a woman who basically describes seeing Ekwensu in the water. Sunny doesn’t see a recap in her daily Leopard newspaper the next morning.

Chapter 17: Sunny and Orlu visit Bola, who is naked on top and frightens Orlu a bit. She is surprised to learn that Sunny’s spirit face has left her, but says by seeing her she has learned something from it. She throws cowry shells to learn more, and shortly after she falls into a trance-like state, noting to Sunny that Anyanwu has been cut from her. She must travel to Osisi, which is a full place, which Orlu knows more about. Bola says she must get Anyanwu back.

Chapter 18: Sunny has a long and mostly-relaxing start to her weekend at home with her family, but she still feels the loss of Anyanwu and her magic. She is having problems sleeping and one night goes out into a thunderstorm to play soccer. Suddenly Anyanwu is there with her, and they talk. Anyanwu explains she had an important meeting, which is why she’s gone. Anyanwu taunts her, explaining she can do all her normal juju, even with Anyanwu gone. Sunny just has to believe in herself. She practices, and they play until the rain stops. Sasha comes to see Sunny in the morning and she says they can go to Leopard Knocks now.

Chapter 19: Chichi has a plan to find Udide and go to Lagos for Osisi - they’ll do a road trip and carpool with Chukwu driving. He’s already said yes, because he owes Sunny for dealing with the Red Sharks. There is contention but they all agree, and Orlu says Sunny will be in the most protected sport in the car in case Ekwensu attacks.

Chapter 20: Sunny asks Chukwu to take them to Lagos and he confirms he doesn’t really owe her anything but he’ll take her anyway. They’ll go after Christmas and spend the new year there. He also expresses how he’s been treated at school since, almost like he doesn’t have to try anymore, and he’s frustrated by it.

Chapter 21: Sunny is reading the Nsibidi book again and realises it’s more or less written specifically for her. Just as it starts talking about Osisi she has to pull herself away to get ready to go on the trip. Della, her wasp, knows she’s going away. Chukwu is a little worried and Ugonna is curious but will let them go as long as they text him when they’re gone. Everyone arrives. Chichi also brought Udide’s Book of Shadows. She tells Sunny a little bit of what to expect when they meet Udide later on. On the way, Chukwu is driving alright but they nearly hit a huge pothole. Shortly after they encounter a broken down vehicle in another large pothole. Orlu and Sasha get out to help, and when Chukwu is compelled to get out and help Chichi distracts him with flirtation. When the car speeds away (fearing greatly from some juju for Lambs) Sasha is upset to find Chichi and Chukwu together. They all pile back in the car.

Welcome back (or forward) time-travellers to the second discussion of The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov This week we are covering Ch. 9 - Ch 14. Sorry about the delay. I wrote the post and Reality Changed and I had to re-write it....or, actually, I miss managed my time....sorry!

Right, 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 before Reality Changes AGAIN!...

Chapter Summaries

**CHAPTER 9: Interlude

It's an idyllic period. Harlan leaves Finge at the 482nd to re-establishes himself at the 575th. Cooper's been drowning with math while Harlan was away. In the 575th Section branch of the library Harlan considers the history and literature written by the Timers themselves, and the different versions of collections from various realities.

When not working he's with Noÿs. She says he's changed. He has become happier. He goes back to her when to get sime of her things and films, even though she is unhappy with the idea. Whilst in the 482nd looking for things to bring back to her he hears a noise in the house and quickly flees into Eternity. Due to a misadjustment later, when searching Noÿs' library, he hears a laugh.

**CHAPTER 10: Trapped

He was sure all was lost and vows to face the laugher that he is sure is Finge. He confronts the man only to flee before being seen. It was himself! Later he comes across 3 Reality Changes with minor flaws and picks one to replace Noÿs' analogue with Noÿs. In the 2456th he bludgeons Sociologist Voy in preparation for Voÿs to leave Eternity and take her place. Something strange stops the kettle dead at 100,000. He cannot pass this barrier. Noÿs is now beyond where he cannot reach her.

He goes to the 482nd to confront Finge. As a Technician no one sees him. He threatens Finge with a neuronic whip and demands the block be removed. Finge tells him that the Council knows about Noÿs. He never valued Harlan much even though Twissell did. Finge tested Harlan and he had failed. Finge doesn't know what happened to Noÿs. He wants to let the Allwhen Council decide. They already know everything apparently. Also it was Twissel that had contacted Finge not the other way around.

Harlan leaves for the Allwhen Council. They'll have no choice but to come to his terms when it's a choice of bartering one girl for the existence of all of Eternity....

**CHAPTER 11: Full Circle

Harlan goes to Twissel's office to be informed by a Computer he is outwhen and will be back in the morning. He worries about Noÿs. He is sure Twissel is in Council consultations about him and Noÿs. When he wakes later an Administrator, Arbut Lemm from the 222nd, has come to get him.

He meets with the five Senior Computers all with over thirty-five years experience as Eternals. They fire questions at him about his interest in the primitive. Then discuss the philosophy of changes in time and how they become lesser not greater over time, which no one can explain. Finally the conversation turns to people meeting themselves and how a person can never see themselves at a later stage in life because that knowledge can change the person's future. Reality must therefore change to prevent this.

Twissel calls the lunch meeting to an end. Harlan has discovered that the math needed for the Temporal Field that created Eternity built in the 24th was not discovered until the 27th. Harlan has realised that Cooper is being prepped to go back past the downwhen terminus of Eternity to the 24th to ensure the Temporal Field is created. Twissel informs Harlan that Cub Brinsley Sheridan Cooper is actually Vikkor Mallansohn. The man that created the Temporal Field in the 24th.

**CHAPTER 12: The Beginning of Eternity

Mallansohn born in the 78th, spent some time in Eternity, and died in the 24th. Harlan's thoughts turn to how he can use this information to his benefit with Noÿs. Twissel is uninterested in Noÿs and Harlan.

Mallansohn left in Time-stasis, which could be opened only by the Computers of Eternity, a guide to Eternals. It remained unaccessible for 3 centuries. In the memoirs it tells how Cooper went back to the 24th, befriended Mallansohn takes on his identity when he dies. He was unable to tell people of the time the mathematics behind it knowing that it would be 300 years before the mysteries could be revealed. Cooper doesn't currently know he is in fact Mallansohn he only finds that out much later in the circle story.

The Mallansohn memoir outlines so much and through history knowing the effect has adjusted the cause where, for example Twissel was found and placed in charge because Mallansohn's memoir stated he was in charge. Twissel is amazed Harlan could figure it all out alone and concludes that he is destined to Computership. After Cooper leaves the current time they'll be free because their future is no longer written. Harlan asks if he can break the circle and destroy Eternity, and with this question he asserts his power in the current situation.

Twissel and Harlan meet with a few of the Council men in a room containing a large complicated machine, an outsized kettle. Cooper will be taking it out of the kettle shafts and back to the 24th. They lock Harlan into the control room, because he must be present. They've taken away his power and put Noÿs out of reach.

**CHAPTER 13: Beyond the Downwhen Terminus

Cooper is, naturally, nervous. Harlan watches Cooper's last hours helplessly. Twissel gives Cooper all the information he'll need for the Mallansohn's memoir such as the fact that the 13th Reality of the 222nd was the key as it developed the Temporal Pressor.

Once Cooper arrives in the 24th he'll make a cache and unload the kettle before it leaves, 15 mins after arrival, with all the tools too technological advanced for the time. In order to ensure the correct location and time radioactive niobium-94 will accompany the kettle for back calculation. Twissel informs Harlan he is not really in control, only to appear so to Cooper. Harlan has the neuronic whip. The kettle disappears then suddenly returns. Twissel is thrilled that the circle is closed. Sennor had argued against knowing ones own future this way, and his concerns began to spread to Twissel that they'd not be successful in avoiding a paradox.

Harlan informs Twissel that the circle has not been closed because Harlan had used the neuronic whip micropile energy to send Cooper away into an unknown time in the primative. It will be the end of Eternity.

**CHAPTER 14: The Earlier Crime

Harlan's reason for destroying Eternity? Noÿs! Twissel locks down the room. Harlan is concerned about Twissel's mental state. Finge, it turns out, hated Twissel and as such was out for his enemy's protégé, Harlan. Finge successfully goaded Harlan whilst Twissel worked to protect him. Sennor was actually insecure about his Reality not out to trip up Harlan. Harlan lets slip that he almost met himself. The infinite possible realities means there is no space for determinism. Reality still has not ended!

Twissel begs Harlan's help and for it they'd promise him everything. He doesn't believe it, but he allows Twissel to tell his story. Twissel had had a woman assigned to him. She was to have a short life and so he spent every moment possible with her falling in love. He Life-Plotted her altering her personal Reality. She became pregnant and knowing she'd die before the birth allowed her to live in the joy of it. She ended up giving birth prematurely and when two weeks later when his wife died Twissel protected his son. A serious felony. He hid the boy, checking on him often. At the soonest opportunity Twissel created a new Life-Plot for his son in Reality. He checked on his son's future and found he had no offspring or deleterious effect on Reality. However, there was an analogue of his son that lived as a paraplegic whose suffering he was unable to do anything about. Twissel, it seems, really would have allowed Harlan to get the girl.....uh oh!

Well then....! Join u/lachesis_decima77 next week for chapters 15 through the end of the book and to see if it really is the end of Eternity. 📚⏳️

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Welcome back to the continuing read of Dragon Keeper! This week had a lot of introspection and plots and motivations. Let’s jump right into the discussion!

Chapter 5: Blackmail and Lies

Captain Leftrin, commander of the barge Tarman, negotiates with Sinad, a Chalcedean merchant seeking trade opportunities in the Rain Wilds. Sinad is interested in more than ordinary merchandise: he also probes the possibility of obtaining valuable dragon materials. Leftrin is wary of his motives and refuses to be drawn easily into a deal that could compromise his principles or position.

Alise’s marriage to Hest becomes increasingly painful. Their marriage has failed to have any love; Alise accuses Hest of infidelity which he refutes with the help of Sedric.

Sintara reflects on her frustration with her physical limitations and dependence on humans reflects the wider plight of the malformed young dragons. The dragons discuss returning to a fabled city, but conclude they need the help from the humans.

Chapter 6: Thymara’s Decison:

Thymara has a long conversation with Tats. Much of this chapter focuses on Thymara’s relationship with her Mother and father and how each parent treats her differently. Thymara discovers that the Rain Wild Traders’ Council has made her an unusual offer: she can join the group responsible for caring for the young dragons. Each of her parents has a different idea about what she should do. Ultimately Thymara decides to journey with the dragons.

Chapter 7: Promises and Theeats:

Alise decides to pursue her long-standing dream of traveling to the Rain Wilds to study dragons. Hest had promised her this opportunity years earlier, however, he is resistant to letting her go. Alise presses Hest to honor his promise. Hest becomes irritated with her insistence; Sedric persuades Hest to let Alise go, but Hest insists Sedric accompany her on this journey.

Welcome back team to our second discussion of A Trade of Blood!

A new form of the guiding web is running rampant. Everyone is dying. And Din makes a less-than-great, drunken first impression with his future BIL. What else could go wrong!?

The full discussion schedule is here or head over to the Marginalia if you read ahead and want to jot down your thoughts.

Chapter 9 - Din catches up with his sister Fostia and learns she’s engaged to Ippeas Armentas. She explains that the money Din sends wasn’t enough, so she began working for a horse breeder where she met Velona Armenta and became one of her drovers. Her new money combined with Din’s allowed their family to move from the Outer Rim into the third ring. 

Fostia catches on to the fact that Din doesn’t think Castus is the murderer just as Ippeas shows up. Ippeas and Fostia were the only people who knew about Castus and Zansay’s relationship and that Castus was truly in love, but also wanted to run away from his family and the ‘curse’. We learn about the three Armentas’ deaths: 

• Lyimo - went missing and was found drowned in a pond; no strange behavior before his death and had generally been drunk and excited to be on the marriage market 
• Sagma - hung herself in the pavillion; had a great sadness before (supposedly from Lyimo’s death)
• Gevma - fell off his destrier and was dragged to his death; deeply disturbed and saddened in the weeks before, not sleeping 

Din asks to meet Velona and they explain she’s not well as she is undergoing fertility treatments at the age of 60 to try and produce an Armentas heir and break the family curse. Fostia agrees to try and tells Din to come to Aimafall the next day. Din then has an awkward conversation with Ippeas about the wedding and his own shortened life expectancy

Chapter 10 - Din tells Ana about reuniting with his sister and she chastises him for not expressing any interest in the wedding. She reminds Din that the flashing lights in the ancient woods began around the same time as Lyimo’s death. She tells Din that the ancient Khanum had houses such as the Daljen who vanished nearly a century before the others and no one knows why. 

Chapter 11 - On the approach to Aimafall, Din sees statues of the Daljen and offertories Velona has put up to different gods to try and break the family curse. Trikao isn’t thrilled that they’ve shown up but Ana sasses him and he disappears. Fostia and Ana meet and discuss Velona’s fertility treatments. Coral, Velona’s drokha-cat, has got away and Osumlik, the medikker, comes chasing after it. He tells Fostia that Velona took away his pipe so he can’t control Coral with it. They go in and meet Velona. 

Chapter 12 - Ana plays on Velona’s spiritual side to get her to talk about her children’s death. She reveals that while Lyimo was generally happy and enjoying the attention on the marriage circuit, he began slipping away to the forest at night where he would stand on the edge and just stare. The pond he was found drowned in was near to the forest, and Velona believes that since the tombs of the ancients are in the forest, they must be responsible for his death. Both Sagma and Gevma experienced horrific dreams before their death about being trapped in their rooms and unable to move, but Lyimo didn’t. Velona is sure Burilis Burav isn’t behind the murders as it’s beyond his abilities. 

Velona takes out her pipe and gets Osumlik to play it to make Coral dance. Din is sure this must be the instrument that controls the guiding web. Fostia tells Ana that the Armentas had a sepulcher and that all bodies of the dead are washed and preserved in airtight casks. On the carriage ride back, Ana points out to Din that Castus also complained of suffering from dreams of being trapped somewhere, so this may be a symptom of the guiding web. 

Chapter 13 - Din goes and finds the Orbiis in the fields and they’re all behaving oddly. He meets Commander Raudoti Tauri, the lead officer, who agrees to speak with Din about the guiding web and perform an autopsy on Zansay. However, they need to hurry because if she is infected and they leave her body for much longer, it will fruit and the guiding web will spread its spores! On the way back to Lacanthim, Din sees a tree in the ancient forest glowing, with the light flickering on and off in a pattern. 

Chapter 14 - Commander Tauri performs the autopsy on Zansay using plants to avoid any contamination. We learn that he, like most of the Orbiis, are an efthiki which means they’ve been altered to be sensitive to compounds entering the body. 

He tells Ana and Din there are two forms of the guiding web. 1) The natural version which is found in water. When creatures drink the water, they’re infected with the fungus which draws them to the sound of water. The creature stays near the water until it starves and dies, and then the guiding web fruits, making the creature walk so it can spread its spores. 2) The domesticated web which has been reduced and harnessed to condition living beings to respond to sounds in specific ways. It is made by putting drokha-cats corpses in water polluted with the guiding web, which implies that the human version had to be made with human corpses! The more a creature performs their conditioned act, the more the fungus spreads until it kills the host - which is why farmers treat the drokha-cats with medicine. If the cats don’t get the medicine, they experience sleepwalking. 

Ana proposes that a third type of guiding web may have been created which can control humans to perform complex actions. Tauri says he’ll need to test all the water and come up with a treatment to restrain the fungus. He reveals that Burilis Burav was an Orbiis and just after he left he invented the agrarian web. The reason he wanted Zansay’s corpse back was because he knew his daughter had been infected with the guiding web. Just then, Zansay’s skull cracks open - she is infected with the guiding web and it had to be administered in repeated doses over time. They rush off to speak to Burav and find the whole estate is on fire. 

Chapter 15 - Din helps put out the fire and it seems that the entire Burav family died except for Jalin, Burilis’ son who leapt out a two-story window. A kitchen girl saw a Tala man creeping around and went up to the servants’ door before the fire started. They find Kiva Kozder, a valet, is another witness who reports that in the midst of the funerary rites the entire Burav family (minus Jalin who wasn’t there) froze and were unable to move when the fire started. The family had also been experiencing nightmares of being trapped, but Kozder, who had been away from the house for a month, didn’t have the same dreams. 

Welcome back everyone. This week we finished ‘Mort’, the fourth novel in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett. This book is also the first book in the Death sub-series. This one was another re-read for me, and I found that I actually enjoyed 'Mort' a lot more this time. We are still early on in the series and I don't want to give away any spoilers but I will say that the best is yet to come. The Death series in particular are some of Pratchett's best novels, imo.

Marginalia and schedule links.  

Spoiler policy

Summary:

Death decides to try out a different career path for himself. This is a bit tricky, because he lacks transferable skills but eventually, he gets a job as a chef in an inn. He ends up being great at cooking for both humans and cats.

Mort gets some rest, which turns into a nightmare about him becoming a monsterous version of Death. The real Death hasn’t come home for a couple of days, so Mort, Ysabelle and Albert team up to try to do his job. Things look promising, until Mort starts embracing his role a bit too much. He uses his new power to force Albert to give him a spell to hold back the reality interface. Then Ysabelle and Mort leave to rush through the two major deaths of the day before (hopefully) saving Keli. Their first stop is to the Agatean Empire on the Counterweight Continent to visit the young Emperor’s court. This is the country that Twoflower comes from, a main character from ‘The Colour of Magic’ and ‘The Light Fantastic’. Mort and Ysabelle watch as the emperor out manners his vizier into eating a poison meant for him. Then they head off to the pyramids of Klatch, where another ruler has recently been entombed and his servants are dying. Mort keeps becoming more like Death, to the point where he can’t control it.

Meanwhile back at Death’s house, Albert does not like being bullied. He only has ninety-one days left to live in the real world, but he is willing to spend a couple to snitch about Mort to Death. He gets back into his wizard gear and magics himself to the Unseen University. He takes command of the place very quickly (everyone thinks he is an abused statue who has become flesh to punish them all). We get to see Rincewind (the other main character from ‘The Colour of Magic’) who ends up being Albert’s personal assistant. Albert demands that the wizards help him get a summoning circle for Death going. This coincides with Mort losing control over his Death powers in the pyramid in Klatch. The summoning spell grabs on to Mort and nearly takes him to Albert, but luckily Ysabelle knocks Mort out. This also stops Death’s powers from taking him over completely. On the other side of the spell, Albert is happy because he doesn’t want to summon Mort. With Mort gone, the real Death is summoned. Albert gets drunk on power and considers challenging Death but Rincewind and/or the Librarian misplace his staff before a battle can commence. Albert and Death disappear, besties again. All the other wizards are relieved because they don't like Albert all that much.

Mort and Ysabelle race to Sto Lat and get to Keli and Cutwell just as the coronation is about to happen. Keli and Cutwell have pretty much resigned themselves to everything ending after the coronation. However, the evil Duke won’t even let Keli have that. He stages his coup just as the interface enters the hall. Mort and Ysabelle arrive and attempt to defend Keli. The interface takes the Duke and his cohort just in time and is about to take Keli when Mort sees a loophole: reality can’t catch up to her if she travels to Death’s home realm. The group departs on Binky.

They return to Death’s home and find Death (and Albert) waiting for them. Death is angry at Mort for breaking his trust and seducing Ysabelle (emotionally). We learn that Ysabelle has developed feelings for Mort. Death challenges Mort to a duel because Mort has broken too many rules. The duel gets very intense but luckily only one person dies: the evil Duke (he isn’t there, but his hourglass gets shattered). Mort nearly overpowers Death but in the end, Death pins him down. Mort’s own hourglass runs out of sand, but instead of reaping him, Death has an epiphany and turns the glass upside down.

We cut to an epilogue of sorts where Mort and Ysabelle have just gotten married in Sto Lat. Keli is alive and the proper queen, while Ysabelle and Mort seem to have magically inherited the Duke’s holdings of Sto Helit. We learn that Death managed to save them all, because he can do whatever he likes. There is one condition though:  the group must unify the land and bring about the hundred years peace the evil Duke would have inadvertently achieved in the original reality. Cutwell and Keli are now couple as well and congratulate Mort on his wedding.

Mort goes to get a drink and Death sneaks in to visit him. We learn that Death is done with human affairs and has distanced himself from Mort and Ysabelle. Mort hints that a grandchild could be on the way, which Death says he can’t be involved with.The story ends with Death wishing Mort well and giving him a reality pearl/ universe seed, created by the glitch in the fabric of reality Mort made when he saved Keli’s life.

Hello book lovers! We are pleased to bring you another 2026 edition of the Author Profile! Last Author Profile was for the classic authors (basically anyone who was published primarily pre-20th Century) so this time around it'll be authors who were published primarily in the 20th century! Last time we ran the 20th Century(ish) authors Terry Pratchett of Discworld fame won. So, let's get ready to vote for which combo you'd like to read this upcoming fall\winter (or spring\summer for our Southern Hemisphere friends)!

Down in the comments will be a list of 20th century authors and included with each author will be one (or more) of their works and a biography. For the winner we will read both the biography of the chosen author and the accompanying work.

Upvote for any and all combinations you'd like to see run on /r/bookclub!

Please note, there is no obligation to read both but there may be spoilers as free discussion between both the biography and the book is encouraged.

Voting will be open for 72 hours and the results will be announced shortly thereafter.

(Comments and questions about the selections and or the Author profile project are welcomed and encouraged if you have any!)

Happy reading upvoting! 📚

Welcome to the marginalia for our next Discovery Read, Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater. This is a communal place for things you would jot down in the margins of your books. That might include quotes, thoughts, questions, relevant links, exclamations - basically anything you want to make note of or to share with others. It can be good to look back on these notes, and sometimes you just can't wait for the discussion posts to share a thought.

When adding something to the marginalia, simply comment here, indicating roughly which part of the book you're referring to (eg. towards the end of chapter 2). Because this may contain spoilers, please indicate this by writing “spoilers for chapters 5 and 6” for example, or else use the spoiler tag for this part with this format > ! SPOILER ! < without the spaces between characters like this spoiler lives here

Note: spoilers from other books should always be under spoiler tags unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Here is the full schedule and looking forward to seeing you in the discussions!

We’re back with another Quarterly Non-Fiction! This fall, we’ll be reading Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl. The amazing team who will help lead discussions each week includes: u/thebowedbookshelf, u/ProofPlant7651, and me - u/tomesandtea! The discussions begin on Oct. 26 and we will have 3 check-ins for this book. Keeping in mind the heavy subject matter, we will keep each reading section a bit shorter in length than a usual r/bookclub schedule.

Here is a summary of the book according to Storygraph:

Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Based on his own experience and the stories of his patients, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. At the heart of his theory, known as logotherapy, is a conviction that the primary human drive is not pleasure but the pursuit of what we find meaningful. Man's Search for Meaning has become one of the most influential books in America; it continues to inspire us all to find significance in the very act of living.

Helpful Links:

* Marginalia: coming soon

* Goodreads page

* Storygraph page

* The Viktor Frankl Institute of America (a biography and resources to understand more about his life, practice, and philosophy)

Schedule - Check-ins are on Mondays:

* Oct. 26: Start -thru- Part I, stopping at: “Outside on the pole at the camp gate a white flag floated in the wind.” - u/tomesandtea

* Nov. 2: Part I, picking up at: “Many weeks later we found out that even in those last hours…” -thru- Part II: The Existential Vacuum (finish that section) - u/ProofPlant7651

* Nov. 9: Part II: The Meaning of Life -thru- the End - u/thebowedbookshelf

We hope you’ll be with us for this meaningful philosophical read-along. Are you planning to join in the discussions?

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

  ---

*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.

Now that Knightmare Arcanist is underway I am excited to announce that following its completion the next mod pick will be A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L Peck.

Blurb

A man is cast by an unfamiliar God into a vast, incomprehensible Hell - a labyrinth library of books containing the stories of every life ever lived.
His only way out is to find the single book that tells his own story. But along the seemingly infinite shelves lies every possible combination of letters. Trapped within this maze of meaninglessness, the absurdity of existence becomes impossible to ignore.
A life-changing, existential novella, Steven L. Peck's modern classic explores a subversive vision of eternity, taking the reader on a journey through the afterlife of a world where everything everyone believed in turns out to be wrong.

We will share the schedule soon so keep your eyes peeled. Who will be joining us for this thought-provoking, existential, short and anything but sweet read? 📚

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 ✨️📚

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 📚

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 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!