This week's #longreads Top 5 includes:

-Behind the blockade (Associated Press)
-Splendid scribbles (Eater)
-Greenest green (The New Yorker)
-New nuptials norm (New Lines Magazine)
-Tasteless tomatoes (Offrange)

https://longreads.com/2026/08/07/the-top-5-longreads-of-the-week-620/?utm_source=x&utm_medium=social

#longreads #top5 #reading #writing #essays

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#library #libraries #read #reading #book #books #librarylove #author #publiclibrary #literature #lit

"I never asked Auntie Zou why all the books were torn, without title pages and back pages. In those days, asking too many questions could get you in trouble."

Zhang Er for China Books Review: https://chinabooksreview.com/2026/07/23/the-missing-pages

#Longreads #Reading #Books #China #BannedBooks

August is Black Business Month. Here’s a great opportunity to support a Black-owned business…

Do you use Goodreads? If so, you can migrate to @thestorygraph. You can even import all of your Goodreads data.

Nadia Odunayo is the founder and sole developer. Together with her small team, they’re making a great product that’s slowly improving over time.

So go support Nadia and co. instead of a fascist billionaire.

https://thestorygraph.com

#BlackBusinessMonth #BlackMastodon #Books #Reading #TheStoryGraph #Goodreads

@kurtsh @mookie
I reread many books multiple times. Here are four that I've read many times.
1. Hogfather Terry Pratchett
2. Catch-22 Joseph Heller
3. The Last Coin James P. Blaylock
4. The Doomsday Book Connie Wells

And one more
The 1956 Betty Crocker Cookbook
I've read it cover to cover at least twice, but have opened and referenced recipes from it regularly for 60 some odd years. Not a novel, but a well loved book nonetheless.
#books #reading

@mookie Like most people I've got a bunch, but here are some of the ones I most want to share:

1. Balanced on the Blade's Edge by Lindsay Buroker
2. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
3. The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien
4. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

with some notes:
1. The whole Dragon Blood series that starts with Balanced on the Blade's Edge, and the followup series Heritage of Power, are my favorite books and I will reread them all the time
2. I've made multiple passes through the first half-ish of the Wheel of Time series, but it's a chonker and I only made it all the way to the end once
3. Of course LOTR as well, but everyone is naming that

#books #reading

Yup! In multiple forms too -- including a reinterpretation.

It's such a classic story -- and honestly, it's a short read so worth a read .

The first time I read it was as a reinterpretation. A friend of author Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park) thought Beowulf was boring and challenged Crichton to make it exciting. Crichton wrote the book Eaters of the Dead based on the challenge and the book follows the story of Beowulf, but from the point of view of a third party. The book was later made into the movie 13th Warrior starring Antonio Banderas as that third party.

In university, I took an English course where I read Beowulf in the original language, Old English (aka Anglo-Saxon) in its original format: Verse (aka a poem). It's great!

Because Beowulf is written in Old English, it has many translations. The translation into verse by Burton Raffel is particularly good. But the best verse translation into Modern English is by Seamus Heaney the book contains the Old English version right next to the new English translation.

I've read multiple prose translations. The best prose translation of Beowulf is Donaldson's and worth a read if it's your first time reading. Beowulf was also translated into prose by J.R.R. Tolkien.

If you can't tell, I love this story and think everyone should read it at lease once.

#books #reading #beowulf #poetry

What are four books you’ve read multiple times?

Mine are:
1️⃣ "Ready Player One" - Ernie Cline
2️⃣ "Liar's Poker" - Michael Lewis
3️⃣ "Fire and Fury" - Michael Wolff
4️⃣ "Unreasonable Hospitality" - Will Guidara
#books #reading
From: @mookie
https://weredreaming.com/mookie/p/1785463553.076799

@kurtsh @mookie
#books #reading
1. The Lord of The Rings
2. The Complete Sherlock Holmes
3. Neuromancer.
4. Catch 22.
Bonus Calvin & Hobbes

Mine are:

• Beowulf by Unknown Author
• Dune by Frank Herbert
• Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
• The Martian by Andy Weir

"The real world is both tiring and tiresome for him, Lewis went on to explain: too many unwritten rules, too many norms that don’t quite make sense." —Eve Livingston for Dispatch

https://dispatch-media.com/meet-britains-hikikomori/?src=longreads

#longreads #introvert #autism #anxiety #reading #writing #family

"Whatever the reason, it’s now de rigueur to be regular."—Linni Kral for Taste

https://tastecooking.com/this-too-shall-pass/?src=longreads

#longreads #poop #BM #diet #influencer #reading #writing

#Books #Reading #BookerPrize #BlackMastodon #BlackFedi #BlackTwitter
The Booker Prize list was announced today. https://www.npr.org/2026/07/28/nx-s1-5874638/2026-booker-prize-longlist-fiction
I often buy the prize winner although I don't know why. I haven't liked a single one. That's probably an unpopular sentiment, but I have the 2024 winner, ORBITAL, sitting in my recovery stack. Started it but won't finish it. I really do need to stop buying them.

#books #reading #warhammer #warhammer40000 #warhammer40k

This is interesting news.

Swedish education officials are investing heavily again in traditional printed textbooks.

The national strategy aims to phase out digital devices for children under the age of six entirely, following a drop in international reading assessment scores.

Research indicates that the physical act of handwriting activates complex neural networks governing motor skills, vision, memory, and language-cognitive benefits that are largely lost on a keyboard.
#Education #Reading

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This image features a photograph of a young, blonde boy sitting at a desk in what appears to be a classroom setting. The boy, wearing a dark navy blue zip-up jacket, is leaning over his desk, focused attentively as he writes on a piece of paper using a wooden pencil. The background shows a soft-focus classroom environment with another child sitting at a desk in the distance. Prominently overlaid across the bottom portion of the photo is bold text in a light yellow/orange font that reads: "Sweden is officially reversing its use of digital technologies in education and returning to handwriting and books"

"This is surely the most exciting development in the field of ancient history in many years." —Carlos Noreña for Aeon

https://aeon.co/essays/uncovering-a-global-ancient-history-beyond-greece-and-rome?src=longreads

#longreads #greece #rome #ancienthistory #reading #writing

Book banners have NEVER been the good guys - www.bookbanpetition.us

#library #libraries #read #reading #book #books #librarianship #lit

The tech industry is pushing our planet to the breaking point.

HYPERSCALE tells the story of the growing fight around data centers. It comes out October 20.

Preorder yours today: https://hyperscalebook.com

#tech #datacenters #generativeai #books #reading #climate

Good news for many of us here:

Your pending pile (your books-to-read pile) is contributing to your well-being.... it represents an anticipation of pleasure to come & as such sports good mental health.

Just as well as my pending pile of books never goes down (yes, that's my problem in buying more books that look/sound interesting).

#books @books #reading #MentalHealth #tsundoku

https://theconversation.com/why-you-keep-buying-books-you-dont-read-and-why-it-feels-so-good-286801

Show that Americans love their libraries!

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#library #libraries #read #reading #book #books #librarianship #lit

#BurgeonLab #WeekNotes 034 is out!

2026: Week 29/52 (Jun 13 – Jul 19)

➡️ https://burgeonlab.com/weeknotes/2026/w29/

A weeknote about writing, books, #bookwyrm and #indiebookclub, a #micropub app by @gregorlove.com

This is post 69 of #100DaysToOffload
📈 https://burgeonlab.com/tags/100daystooffload/

#indieweb #indiekit #hugo #hongkong #hk #frontend #books #reading #booktracker #blogging #blogs #smallweb #weeknote #personalBlog #PersonalSites #BloggingCommunity

Reading The Social Construction of Reality:
A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge
https://philosophics.blog/2026/07/17/the-social-construction-of-reality-a-treatise-in-the-sociology-of-knowledge/?utm_source=masto&utm_medium=social
#philosophy #knowledge #sociology #audiobook #Audible #reading

Honestly, I think we are both emerging from our own personal Château d'Ifs.

#literature #reading #classiclit #countofmontecristo #bookish
#bookclub #ebook #publicdomain

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A public domain image of the James brothers posing for a Kodak in matching coats and hats in hand. Meme text reads,"When bro and you are reading the same old book."

Q: Where do you do your best thinking?

A: On the EGYPTAIR flight home. . . . There is no better place to think than somewhere over the Atlantic after Egypt has scrambled your brain.

This week's Longreads Questionnaire, with BECOMING BABA author Aymann Ismail: https://longreads.com/2026/07/15/questionnaire-aymann-ismail/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

#Longreads #Books #Egyptian #Egypt #Writers #Journalists #Reporting #Reading #Interviews

Together we can protect and fund the libraries our communities need.

#library #libraries #read #reading #book #books #librarianship #lit

#read #reading #book #books #audiobook #audiobooks

COMING SOON: The Nerd Reich by Gil Durán (@gilduran)

https://social.trom.tf/display/dbc8dc44-606a-5416-9e63-b78152956776

#technology #bookstagram #SiliconValley #reading #PeteThiel #DarkEnlightenment #NeoReactionary #NRx #cameralism #CurtisYarvin #NetworkState #NeoFascism #TechnoFeudalism #book

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SCREENSHOT: Post by Gil Durán Sunday, July 12, 2026 a 3:23 PM PHOTO: A cardboard box with muliple copies of a hardcover book, one of which is being held. The cover is red with a circuit board tracing faintly laid over it. "The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fasscism and the War on Democracy" by Gil Durán TEXT: Yesterday two mysterious boxes arrived. And here in my hand is my life's work: "The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fasscism and the War on Democracy". It tells the story of how a cult of billionaires became radicalized against democracy. And it exposes their plan to use AI and crypto to wipe the United States off the face of the earth. Coming 8/18. Pre-orders make a huge difference! Make a fascist sweat -- pre-order today! (See links below.)

Are we living through the end of reading?

https://www.npr.org/2026/07/11/nx-s1-5886268/are-we-living-through-the-end-of-reading

#books #reading

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In Federico Zandomeneghi's painting "Girl reading a book," a young girl with bright red hair is shown in profile, looking to the left. She is holding an open book and wears a light blue dress with a ruffled collar. The background is filled with warm shades of orange, red, and soft yellow.

I am sad this morning. Woke up to see some of my favorite #Fanfiction has been removed from the internet. Not because of pull to publish, but just because they have to now fight because LLM folks are now using LLMs to write, and publish, fanfiction. Even though this may be the case now, keep this in mind. https://sightlessscribbles.com/how-fanfiction-is-literary-resistance/ #ReadingCommunity #Reading #Fiction #WritingCommunity

Our Top 5 this week:

ㆍConcrete memories, Places Journal
ㆍGrief science, The New Yorker
ㆍCaptive cats, The Narwhal
ㆍRelentless pain, The Common
ㆍMyth meets reality, The Atlantic

https://longreads.com/2026/07/10/top-5-616/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=email

#Longreads #Reading #Storytelling #Essay #Journalism

🤗☁️🌈☁️📖📜✝️👑🕊️💦🏩💒❤️‍🔥🛐🫂💛💜💗🩵🩷🧡🤔🧐🥸😎🤓🧠🤗*(The plans of the heart belong to man!*but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD!)*[All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes!*but the LORD👉

(Proverbs 16:1-3*& 8-9)
#Wisdom #Proverbs #Beloved #Friends #Bible #Interesting #Reading #Devotional #Lord #GOD #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #People #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another

🤗☁️🌈☁️📖📜✝️👑🕊️💦🏩💒❤️‍🔥🛐🫂💛💜💗🩵🩷🧡🤔🧐🥸😎🤓🧠🤗(IN THE “BIBLE” YOU CAN FIND THE WRITINGS OF “Proverbs” TO HELP GAIN WISDOM!*& WHEN I GET A CHANCE TO READ SOME OF THEM I THINK THEY MAKE GREAT ADVICE!*& PERFECT SENSE!*AMEN!†*& HERE ARE A FEW I SHARE WITH YOU ALL!)👉

(Proverbs 16:1-3*& 8-9)
#Wisdom #Proverbs #Bible #Interesting #Reading #Lord #GOD #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love

🤗☁️🌈☁️📖📜✝️👑🕊️💦🏩💒❤️‍🔥🛐🫂💛💜💗🩵🩷🧡🤔🧐🥸😎🤓🧠🤗(DEAR BELOVED FRIENDS ON THIS ENTIRE REALM OF EARTH IN THE “BIBLE” YOU CAN FIND THE WRITINGS OF “Proverbs” TO HELP GAIN WISDOM!*& WHEN I GET A CHANCE👉

(Proverbs 16:1-3*& 8-9)
#Wisdom #Proverbs #Beloved #Friends #Bible #Interesting #Reading #Devotional #Lord #GOD #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #People #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another

🤗☁️🌈☁️📖📜✝️👑🕊️💦🏩💒❤️‍🔥🛐🫂💛💜💗🩵🩷🧡🤔🧐🥸😎🤓🧠🤗THE “BIBLE Proverbs” TO HELP GAIN WISDOM!*& GREAT ADVICE!*& PERFECT SENSE!*AMEN!]†🤗📖📜✝️👑🕊️💦🏩💒❤️‍🔥🛐🫂💛💜💗🩵🩷🧡☁️🌈☁️🤔🧐🥸😎🤓🧠🤗👉

(Proverbs 16:1-3*& 8-9)
#Wisdom #Proverbs #Beloved #Friends #Bible #Interesting #Reading #Devotional #Lord #GOD #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #People #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another

☁️🌈☁️💒🛐💦🏩❤️‍🔥😎👓📚🫂🕊️📖✝️👑❤️‍🔥💦🌐🌏🩷💁🏿‍♀️*[DEAR BELOVED FRIENDS ACROSS THE WORLD IN THE “BIBLE” YOU CAN FIND THE WRITINGS OF “Proverbs” TO HELP GAIN WISDOM!*& WHEN I GET A CHANCE TO READ SOME OF THEM I THINK THEY MAKE GREAT ADVICE!*& PERFECT SENSE!*AMEN!]†👉

(Proverbs 16:1-3*& 8-9)
#Wisdom #Proverbs #Bible #Interesting #Reading #Devotional #Lord #GOD #Jesus #Christ #Holy #Spirit #Savior #Light #World #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Understanding #Unity #Love