I want to start by saying it is currently 7.30am and I have just woke up, but this tag seems too good to not do, so instead of trying to remember to do it later, I'm doing it now.
Hope is absolutely essential in these dark times, as a reminder to just keep going. With that in mind, let's get started.
1. A book world you like to escape to
I'm so torn between so many worlds - Hogwarts, Grishaverse, and so on - but if I'm going to survive and live happily in the world, it has to be Dr RIbero's Agency of the Supernatural by Lucy Banks. This is a charming series that I've done reviews on before, so I'll not spend too much time fangirling over it. It's just so... wonderful. Set in Britain, the series gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what might be happening, with ghosts and powerful supernatural entities existing in their daily lives just as we do. Naturally if I did live in this world, there'd be a chance of running into something scary, but I'd be OK with that. It would liven up the day, I think.
2. A romance that left you all mushy inside
This has to go to Wylan and Jesper from Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom duology by Leigh Bardugo. Their romance unfolds so slowly and brilliantly, I couldn't help but adore them together. The Grishaverse in general is full of lovely romances, but Wylan and Jesper won my heart. There are a few other romances that I adore, and if I thought I could just give you a list of all my ships, I would.
3. A friendship we should all aspire to have
Alright, hear me out on this one. I'm going with the crew of the Roci from The Expanse series by James SA Corey. Friendship is not at the foreground of this series; it's about war, rebellion, revolution, oppression, and so many other things that are going on right now. The crew of the Roci are amazing. They support each other, but will happily say when they think someone is doing the wrong thing. They make mistakes, and their friends are there to laugh at them and go "Well you messed that up" while also helping clean up the mess. Friendship is created out of necessity - they are stuck together in a small ship in space most of the time - but I believe they truly love each other. I also want to say the Crows, but I just talked about that duology, so let's go with The Expanse.
4. Intermission: The cutest pictures of your pets
I sadly have no pets, but I recommend looking up pet pictures.
5. A character in a leadership role that inspires you
I'm going to go with Sophronia from Finishing School series by Gail Carriger. Sophronia gathers together a band of misfits in a Victorian steampunk finishing school, where they learn how to set a table and only poison half of their guests, or how to take down a werewolf using only their perfume and a fan. I love this series. Sophronia is a wonderful character; she is flawed and makes mistakes, but immediately admits to them. She sees the value of everyone, even the workers who everyone else dismisses. To her, everyone has purpose, everyone deserves to be helped and to help in turn, and I love her. She's also a teenage girl doing her best to exist in a world that doesn't like teenage girls.
6. Recommend three books that fill you with hope
a. Odyssey of Homer
No matter what happens, whether you are being targeted by a god who wants your destruction, or you are stuck on an island with a beautiful woman that isn't your wife, you will always have a support group. You will always have someone there who is willing to help. This epic is also full of people helping out strangers, just because it is the right thing to do. All the deities might be actively targeting you, but someone will always lend a hand.
b. Women's Influence on Classical Civilization by Fiona McHardy and Eireann Marshall
This nonfiction book is a short collection of essays about women being underestimated by scholars. For me, this is a hopeful book. No matter how long it takes, someone will eventually take you seriously. It also looks at how women influenced big political decisions behind the scenes, so even though it seemed to all that women had no power, there was a degree of it. Women have always been a part of huge decisions, whether or not anyone would agree with it.
c. Fender Lizards by Joe R Lansdale
I read this with the Hyper RPG Book Club, and I'm so glad I did. The book focuses on a group of women who enter a roller derby. By the end it didn't matter to me whether they won or lost, merely that they took part. I know that might sound odd, but truly that's why it fills me with hope. Taking part in something, showing that you care about something, it may or may not get you in the White House or a roller derby trophy, but you can inspire someone else who will do the same.
7. Tag some people
I'm going to tag anyone who has had breakfast today.
It is now 8.15am and I've already had two cups of tea. I should probably get some university reading done now.
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