Month: May 2022

Determining Book Genres

Determining Book Genres

You may have noticed by blog recently got a glow up, courtesy of Sonya Gonzalez (artwork) and Nose Graze (layout). I’m going through and editing past posts to match the format, which with the expanded functionality of this theme means adding a lot of information to my book reviews. Part of that information is genre and, fam, it’s got me confused. I used to think that genres were relatively stable (Nonfiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, etc.) and set by some industry leading body, like the publishing houses. But the more I dug into sites like Amazon-owned Goodreads, the […]

Posted May 30, 2022 by bethwyrm in Bookish Discussion / 10 Comments
Marvelathon Readathon in June

Marvelathon Readathon in June

I just stumbled across the Marvelathon readathon, hosted by LisaDoesLife, and can’t not join in. A readathon based on a universe I enjoy (that’s also a Disney property, which means someday I’ll be getting a quasi-immersive experience in it) is too much fun to pass up. In a nutshell: It runs June 1-30. It’s team vs team, and whoever has the most points at the end wins. The 6 main prompts count for 25 points each. The 2 team-specific prompts count for 50 points each (they’re more specific). The Power-Up optional prompts count for 10 points each. One book can […]

Posted May 29, 2022 by bethwyrm in Book Challenge / 2 Comments
Makopa by Vinta

Makopa by Vinta

The above photo was taken in direct sunlight. Ink is swatched on Clairefontaine 90gsm paper, using a glass dip pen. Specs Name: Malayan Apple Makopa 1938 Maker: Vinta Color Family: Pink Properties: Sheening Purchased at: Vanness  What’s in a name? The Malayan apple (or Makopa) is a bell-shaped fruit that grows in the Philippines and is known for its crisp pulp and mild flavor. Many Filipinos grow this in their backyard or in local neighborhoods. It’s said the paler and darker it is, the sweeter it becomes. Its scientific name was first published in 1938, hence the date in the name. […]

Posted May 28, 2022 by bethwyrm in Fountain Pens / 0 Comments
Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse

Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse

Characters: 9, both the main characters and the secondary characters (hell, even the tertiary characters) were unique, memorable, and well fleshed out. Atmosphere: 9, from the description of the plains to the description of Serapio’s growing relationship with the crows, everything felt very tangible and immersive- to the point where I had a visceral reaction to some characters and scenes. Writing: 9, Roanhorse’s writing drew me in and didn’t let me go. It’s evocative without being florid, and the ideal balance between quick pace and rich inner life of each character. Plot: 9, I didn’t know what to expect after […]

Posted May 27, 2022 by bethwyrm in Book Review / 2 Comments
Parrot Fish by Van Dieman’s

Parrot Fish by Van Dieman’s

The above photo was taken in direct sunlight. Ink is swatched on Clairefontaine 90gsm paper, using a glass dip pen. Specs Name: Parrot Fish Maker: Van Dieman’s Color Family: Teal Properties: Shimmering Purchased at: Vanness  What’s in a name? Part of Van Dieman’s Underwater collection (celebrating the diverse aquatic life off the coast of Australia), this ink is named for the fish. These brightly colored buddies can also be found off the coast of Hawaii, and yes, their mouth does snap like a parrot beak.  Note: Van Dieman’s reformulated all their inks this year, to be more environmentally friendly and easier […]

Posted May 25, 2022 by bethwyrm in Fountain Pens / 2 Comments
Red Lightning by Van Dieman’s

Red Lightning by Van Dieman’s

The above photo was taken in direct sunlight. Ink is swatched on Clairefontaine 90gsm paper, using a glass dip pen. Specs Name: Red Lightning Maker: Van Dieman’s Color Family: Red Properties: Shimmering Purchased at: Vanness  What’s in a name? Part of Van Dieman’s Night series, this color resembles the electric discharge in the skies over Tasmania which can appear as a vivid red lightning. This type of occurrence is also called sprites. How cool is that?! Swatches  A large swatch of ink showcases the darkest this ink gets, as well as the maximum properties it has (when held at the right […]

Posted May 21, 2022 by bethwyrm in Fountain Pens / 0 Comments
The Deniability of Danishes by E.M. Epps

The Deniability of Danishes by E.M. Epps

Characters: 6, I felt like the biggest character traits were that the female MC was Catholic and committed to getting married rather than dating around, and that the male MC couldn’t tell a lie. The side characters were fun, and served a purpose in encouraging the male MC, but otherwise they didn’t stick too much with me. Atmosphere: 7, this is partly because it’s building on the world established in Cold Sandwiches and All, but the description of the physical world, the explanation of the magic system, and the political environment were all established enough to feel real without a […]

Posted May 20, 2022 by bethwyrm in Book Review / 0 Comments
Mint Turquoise by De Atramentis

Mint Turquoise by De Atramentis

The above photo was taken in direct sunlight. Ink is swatched on Clairefontaine 90gsm paper, using a glass dip pen. Specs Name: Mint Turquoise Maker: De Atramentis Color Family: Green Properties: Shading Purchased at: Goulet Pens. What’s in a name? Aside from the fact that De Atramentis is a German company that hand-makes each batch of ink, I couldn’t find anything about the name. Then again, it’s pretty straightforward! Swatches A large swatch of ink showcases the darkest this ink gets, as well as the maximum properties it has (when held at the right angle to show any shimmer or sheen). But […]

Posted May 18, 2022 by bethwyrm in Fountain Pens / 0 Comments
Clearurshit 2.5 Mini Readathon

Clearurshit 2.5 Mini Readathon

Last year I participated in the delightfully snarky, narrative Clearurshit readathon, whose aim is to get you plowing through those books you’ve bought but haven’t yet read (of which I have….way too many).  It really got me back on track with reading again, so I was excited to hear the organizers (Mouse and Art) are doing a month-long mini-readathon (in BINGO board style) for June. It’s a standard BINGO board, but every week the story progresses with more information. My aim is to get a BINGO (Walkman, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Polaroids) with: I might be able to get […]

Posted May 16, 2022 by bethwyrm in Book Challenge / 0 Comments