#PERUVIAN LIVES MATTER

[carito-dorito]

WE ARE NOT TERRUCOS WE ARE NOT EVEN FOR CASTILLO ANYMORE WE WANT FREEDOM

INDIGENOUS TEENS, CHILDREN, WOMEN ARE DEAD NOW

THE DEATH TOLL GOES BEYOND 60 PEOPLE AND WE'RE THE SECOND COUNTRY WITH MORE DEATHS IN PROTESTS AFTER COLOMBIA

EVERY MISSED AND DEAD COP AND PEOPLE ARE IMMEDIATELY DISMISSED BY THE CONGRESS (2021-VRAEM AND CURRENTLY WITH THE COP WHO WAS BURNED ALIVE) THEY WANT TO PUT ALL THE BLAME TO THE PROTESTERS

THE ARMY AND COPS ARE EVERYWHERE READY TO "PROTECT DEMOCRACY"

DINA IS THE PUPPET OF THE ALT RIGHT THAT HAS CENSORED RAPISTS, MURDERERS AND DEFENDED THEM

THEY ARE THE REASON WHY WE HAVE STRICT ANTICHOICE LAWS

THERE ARE COPS AND SOLDIERS ON THE STREET

IF YOU SAY YOU CARE FOR MINORITIES PLEASE REBLOG, REBLOG AND SHARE THIS EVERYWHERE

#peru #peruvian protests #indigenous lives matter #acab #all cops are bastards #latin america #leftist #if any of my mutuals who considers themselves a leftist or someone who at least cares for this #PLEASE SHARE

[gallusrostromegalus]

Hi Gallus, I'm doing some worldbuilding and you seem like you could be connected enough for me to find an answer to the problem of dwarven agriculture. Many problems are created by the requirement of no sunlight, as even the common response of mushrooms still need light to break down decomposing matter as a primary energy source. Currently, we're thinking that they use a special type of mushroom that breaks down rocks in an energy-producing reaction, giving them enough energy to absorb nutrients and grow - this would serve a second purpose in explaining why building a massive hollowed-out mountain fortress doesn't produce an equally large amount of gravel.

Any thoughts? We're grasping at straws kinda lol

Well, some thoughts:

There's plenty of cave systems (especially Karst Systems) that are at least partially open to Sunlight- especially the kind that have rivers running through them, which is something else that's really helpful for agriculture.

For Example: This Cool AF Sinkhole cave in china that has an entire Forest in it

Now There's a view to put outside the city Gates!

Karst specifically is a landscape where underground rivers hollow out the limestone underground and then the cave roofs fall in. This kind of landscape answers your gravel question nicely: the hollowed out mountain does produce an equal amount of gravel, but the gravel turns up as the sandy banks of the river system hundreds of miles away.

So, there's your sunlight that can be used directly, or reflected or magically transferred deeper into the cave system.

Or they just put more holes in the roof! Unless your dwarves are also vampires, there's no reason for them to not hollow out a few Skylights into the mountain too.

But let's talk some other cave ecology and agriculture!

For starters, your dwarves could be sitting on top of a literal gold mine that would allow them to trade for a lot of needed materials and crops.

And by gold mine, I mean Salt Mine.

Historically, salt comes out of hollowed-out mountains and is worth more than gold.

Also something the humans have historically fought a bunch of wars over, so there's some free political tensions if you needed that!

I can also mean the possible fucking enormous piles of bat guano that accumulates in Karst caves, which is the world's most insanely good fertilizer, and ALSO something that has been worth more than it's weight in gold.

Speaking of Gold, another thing that often lives in sinkhole caves in abundance is BEES. turns out, limestone stalactites are a terrific place to build a hive that is difficult for predators to reach, stays dry and the stone substrate means the hives can reach many tons in weight before they start having structural issues. That sweet, sweet insect-derived liquid gold is already important to Dwarves in a lot of folklore- it's really hard to have a Traditional Dwarven Mead Hall without the honey to make the mead, you know?

So you got your mushrooms, you got your sunlight-grown sinkhole crops, you got your traded goods and you got your source of alcohol- the only thing really missing from an ancient food pyramid here is a staple carbohydrate. To that end, may I propose our good Peruvian Friend: The Potato.

Grain crops aren't actually all that nutritious and were kept around in ancient societies more as legal tender that kept the peasants busy, because wheat or rice takes months to grow, an enormous amount of labor to harvest, and wheat also needs to be milled before it can be turned into food- all enormously time-consuming processes that keep peasants busy and easy to rule tyranically over.

Potatoes though? Pop one in the ground in spring and you can dig up fingerlings all summer, and if you make potato towers, you can harvest up to 40lbs of delicious, easy-to-prepare-and-store carb out of a single plant- a real space-saver for the limited sinkhole skyspace.

If your dwarves have cheese, the potato makes even more sense, because Potato+dairy is the easiest, most nutritionally complete survival food there is.

Finally, consider: Dwarven Vodka.

This post is open for anyone to comment suggestions on, but that's my take: put your dwarves in a Karst-sinkhole cave system, give them a highly in demand resource like salt or guano, bees, and taters. Boom. Whole agriculture, economy and political scheme starters.

[nicherayyy]

ok. i have the most amazing idea. child reader, but they're from south park and hung around stan's group all the time before moving. (the list of crimes is astronomical, just like cartman and them). basically la squadra and south park! child! reader. bonus points if they have immortality like kenny

Anon you are genius!! And South Park is literally one of my fav shows

TW: cursing, mention of really disturbing crimes and cannibalism (not from reader's side ofc) but it's South Park so there's nothing to be shocked with

La Squadra x Child! South Park! Reader

No one in La Squadra has any idea how they ended up in this situation.. with you.. the most feral 8 year old they ever saw.

Risotto def didn't expect this, I mean, you're just a child, what can go wrong?

Everything.

Everything goes wrong.

At first he didn't even want to tell you about the whole assassin thing. Cuz you know, you're a literal child. You actually found out by accident, finding some random documents on Risotto's desk.

And the last thing Ris wanted was to scare you. He was about to explain himself and that whatever they do, they have no intentions to hurt you while you just listened, like.. it didn't even bothered you?

The only thing you said was:

"Dude I don't really care what you do for a living"

The poor man was too stunned to speak.

Prosciutto HATES your cursing habit. Sometimes he thinks you're an old sailor that saw some things, not a child. You've got a bigger vocabulary than the whole La Squadra combined, I'm not even joking.

He tried to make you stop cursing, he really did.

Pros, in fact, didn't succeed.

"Oh fuck"

"Language"

"Shut up old fart"

"What did you just say??"

Yeah, he can't do this anymore.

Poor Pesci is terrified. How can a child be like.. this??! Children must be naive and innocent, but you?? Ohhh you're the other case.

You actually find it funny that Pesci is so scared of your stories about your old times in South Park. Pls stop traumatising him.

And you're just telling this at random times, which scares him even more.

"Oh, that's a nice chili, I remember my friend ate something like that once"

"Oh.. was it with beef too?"

"No, it was with his enemy's parents"

"WHAT"

Can I just say no one ate chili that day?

Illuso thinks it's amusing, really.

"I'll pay 200 lira if you go and say all curse words you know to Formaggio right now"

"400 lira and we have a deal"

But I won't lie, your stories are scaring him sometimes.

"You know I died once"

"Eh??"

Sometimes he thinks you saw more than him.

Formaggio really likes your stories. But one small issue, he thinks that most of your stories are a joke. Because how can an 8 year old saw so many disturbing things? Of course, it must be just your imagination.

Oh how wrong he was.

"I once was arrested for starting a Peruvian flute band with my friends"

"Haha, yeah, nice"

"And the government sent us to Peru"

"Of course, I believe you"

Actually, Melone is more interested in all your "I died once" thing. Like how?? You just rise from the dead?

"Dude, chill, my friend literally does the same"

So there's another immortal child?? What are you two, Jesus??

"I don't know it's because of some shitty cult I guess?"

"What cult??"

But anyway, he's interested in you in scientific way and doesn't care much about your little crime stories.

Ohhh, Ghiaccio and you are buffing every day. Morning, day, and night.

You just take any opportunity to piss him off. One day for example you pronounced your words wrong (he still remembers that).

Or you can start an argument with him about anything. No matter how small it is. The whole team now tries to distract you so they won't hear Ghiaccio's screams.

"Would you ever stop being so annoying?"

"I don't know, would you ever stop being such a bitch?"

And there it goes.

#jjba x reader #jojo bizarre adventure #jojo no kimyou na bouken #la squadra x reader #la squadra esecuzioni #la squadra #la squadra di esecuzione #prosciutto x reader #illuso x reader #risotto nero x reader #ghiaccio x reader #melone x reader #pesci x reader #formaggio x reader #child reader #jojo no kimyo na boken kin #jojo no kimyō na bōken #la squadra jojo #la squadra jjba #risotto nero #ghiaccio #jojo part 5 #illuso #melone #jjba 5 #jjba headcanons #jjba golden wind #jojo #jojos bizarre adventure #jojos bizzare adventure

[mitamicah]

Happy Valentine's :D

Who's surprised that I chose to draw these two today x'D Outside of being my comfort ship they were also the most suggested pairing on IG and tumblr combined x'D

I wasn't sure if I liked the paint or the flowers (or both) the most so here's all of them x'D

Flower meanings under the line

These flowers are called Aloestromeia or Peruvian lilies; they are said to symbolise love and friendship, devotion and in many different forms.

The yellow lily symbolises happiness and fun which in my mind decribes Bojan and Jere's relationship pretty spot on. Their energy and humour made them click right away. I mean one of the first stories we have of them is that they communicated and bonded by making silly faces to each other (still so freaking cute btw).

The orange lily symbolises warmth, joy, happiness (again) and appreciation -building on top of what I already mentioned of the yellow flower I feel the appreciation is the key word here since the boys seem to really resprect and appreciate the other and find joy being in each other's lives no matter how long they are apart.

The pink lily (outside of having the perfect queerplatonic vibes!!) symbolises romance and playfulness - the prior especially when developing romantic feelings out of a friendship ... I feel like this is the most obvious and the most delulu at the same time but let me have it, it's Valentine's x'D

Source

#yes I went overboard but Idc #I love them okay :'D #and it is valentines after all x'D #bojan cvjetićanin #jere pöyhönen #käärijä #valentine's day #mine #my own art

[hometoursandotherstuff]

This lush penthouse in Lima, Peru is a plant lovers dream. 3bds, 3.5ba, reduced from $4.5M to $3.7M.

Is this not a stunning living room with a full 2-story view of the roof top garden? Look at the wonderful shelf-lined mezzanine above, too.

Hanging plants frame the entrance to the magnificent conservatory, directly open to the dining room.

A more casual sitting room is also open to the conservatory and has a beautiful black marble fireplace.

Here's a small, cozy sitting area with sliding doors to the patio decorated with potted plants.

Is this not amazing? Imagine sitting here among the gorgeous plants? Now, I wonder if they convey.

This is the epitome of bringing the outdoors in.

This is crazy. I wouldn't want it if the plants don't come with it. Then, it's beautiful, but empty. Look at the potted plants on the above shelf.

View from above shows the sizes of the mature plants. Just amazing, aren't they?

Love the Art Deco furnishings, too.

Speaking of Art Deco, how cool is this bathroom?

Family room off the mezzanine.

The spacious primary bedroom opens to the mezzanine and lush greenery along the railing. I recently saw a possible reason why the most expensive homes never show a kitchen- b/c the wealthy don't care about such matters as cooking. They have a chef for that. Could be plausible.

#houses #house tours #home tour

[minipisi-is-dumb]

why do you headcanon tails as venezuelan?

no clue if this is a genuine question or not but <3 ty for giving me the chance anon

im venezuelan so it can be a easy "why not" is not like our existence in media much less representation is a thing so i can believe anything i want

but !!!! if u want more specific stuff let's go then

1) Mobius is basically latin america. they're all latinos your honor

not just that sonic in general is basically The Franchise in latam ever but also that a lot of other characters are coded as latinos (ex. Sonic as brazilian or argentinian depending on who you ask, knuckles jamaican/peruvian, silver chilean etc are popular hcs) for mannerisms and story and funzies.

Oh and let's not forget The World Map where Mobians live basically in latin america no i will not let it alone

mobian uza is literally just latin america i cannot. point at it enough

2) color pallete!!!!!! is real easy since his whole colors are yellow blue white and red in similar tones to the flag so. another win for the venecos (imma put this old image i made some time ago)

3) his tendency to use even the most "useless" objects and make crazy inventions with it (yes i will acknowledge the paperclips in this one because it's been in different shows and games)can be interpreted in many ways, but is a very huge value for us to just have to go on and fight for better or for worse, we don't let ourselves give up so easy and our working culture has shown that really what's stopping us is the state of our country

there's a really common stereotype for venezuela that we're criminals or lazy or don't work, and that's far from it. idk i feel like tails' story connects with that sentiment of fighting for more no matter what you have ANYWAYS

4) SCIENCE AND HISTORY BABEY!!! Venezuela has been really important historically not just for promote independence in South American nations, but also our scientists and petroleum industry have been contributed a lot to the world.

examples like the diamond scalpel, citgo being an originally venezuelan company, the vaccine against leprosy, the corner clamp and i could go On. but tails being a science enjoyer AND being venezuelan is also a cute detail :)))

that's really it. put projection alongside cute clues ive found and details from venezuelan history (as i am a huge nerd of it) and you get little venezuelan tails!! thanks for the ask anon lol

viva la patria

#minipisi.txt #minipisi.asks #vzla tag #miles tails prower #tails #viva venezuela mi patria querida #minipisi.hcs #sth

[fatehbaz]

Food and Ghosts in Peru ...

And certainly, I never planned to write a book that critiqued the chefs credited for transforming Peru -- the country of my birth -- from a place of terror, violence and poverty, to a vibrant, global culinary destination. But as I conducted research for a different project in the early 2000s, it became clear that Peru’s so-called “gastronomic revolution” was central to any contemporary exploration of culture, politics and coloniality in this Andean nation. I was especially intrigued by the ways particular histories of violence haunted hegemonic narratives of inclusion, racial harmony, and economic success, all made possible (as the story goes) through the rediscovery and revalorization of Peruvian cuisine.

As I write in Gastropolitics and the Specter of Race, backstories of violence matter. After over two decades of political violence that claimed at least tens of thousands of lives, not to mention the countless lives destroyed by kidnapping, torture, displacement, sexual violence, and more, the argument made forcefully by prominent chefs in the capital city of Lima is seductive. They claim that gastronomy can offer a path to economic opportunity and support Indigenous livelihoods through chef-producer alliances that make possible farm to table dining. Culinary festivals can showcase cultural vibrancy, biodiversity, and indigeneity to the world, and help Peruvians rediscover and fall in love with their country. In short, Peruvian food and the country’s culinary history of racial, cultural fusion have the power to unite and to heal.

But a closer look at these narratives and practices, at high-end menus and well-meaning chefs, and at the gastropolitical machine that became central to national projects of restoration as the country transitioned to “peace” and democracy, reveals a darker side.

Gastronomy in Peru is implicated with ongoing forms of violence -- colonial and otherwise.

Colonialism shape-shifts.

Its Peruvian echoes and forms can be felt in multiple ways through gastropolitics. At times, writing and researching this book felt like thinking with ghosts. I remember two moments in particular, which both took place in Astrid & Gastón, the flagship restaurant of Gastón Acurio. Acurio is one of the architects of Peru’s gastronomic revolution, and perhaps the leading chef and culinary spokesperson in the country.

-------

The first moment was during my initial visit to the restaurant, located in a restored Casa Moreyra, the 300-year-old main house of the old hacienda in San Isidro, one of the most affluent districts in Lima. We were seated next to a painting called “historia de un huaquero afortunado” by Cuban artist Jose Bedia. As I looked at that remarkable painting [...] I suddenly knew my project had shifted. Huaqueros are looters, persons who clandestinely excavate archaeological sites in order to find pre-Hispanic artefacts to sell illegally, usually to foreign collectors. Huaca means sacred in Quechua, and often refers to sacred objects and places. The painting depicts a figure at the top of a mound, with a clear path leading to a huaca, drawn as a simple white triangular outline with a small, round face. The huaquero is fortunate as he has found his treasure. To me the painting spoke to the extractive and appropriative dimensions of the Peruvian gastronomic revolution. It brought to mind in particular the ongoing theft of Indigenous lands, sacred objects, and intellectual property. But the painting also evoked the Huaca Huallamarca, a striking pyramidal mound located only a few blocks from Astrid & Gastón. When I visited that Huaca during my last trip to Peru in January 2020, I thought back to that painting. Rather than see only the commodification of this space, I felt a powerful refusal to be swallowed up. Could the Huaca not stand instead as a testament to the survivance of Indigenous peoples?

-------

The second moment took place during my last visit to Astrid & Gastón, while on a brief tour of Casa Moreyra. Hoping to learn about how (or if) restaurant staff narrated the histories of violence intimately entangled with an hacienda economy -- one that involved the importation of wheat from Chile, cacao from Guayaquil, indigo from Guatemala, and slaves from Panama -- I asked about the catacombs under the building. As soon as I mentioned them, our guide shook her head:

“Oh no. We don’t go in there. One of my colleagues heard screams coming from there, the screams of a little girl.” I asked how they knew it was a girl. “We saw her,” she whispered.

Ghosts, whether emanating from paintings or buildings, embedded in landscapes, or lurking in the midst of cultural performances at culinary festivals, invite us to reconsider gastropolitics and its multiple impacts. Eve Tuck and C. Ree write that haunting does not “hope for reconciliation. Haunting lies precisely in its refusal to stop…. For ghosts, the haunting is the resolving, it is not what needs to be resolved.”

In Peru, we need ghosts to continue their work. In a context where so many want to forget the violence of the past and refuse to see the ways that violence lingers powerfully in the lives of so many, ghosts can offer productive disruptions. [...] The victims of the political violence of the last century and the pandemic of the current one will haunt Peruvian society for many years to come, as the drastic and obscene inequalities that produced them show no signs of abatement.

-------

Text by: Maria Elena Garcia. “Food and Ghosts in Peru.” UC Press Blog (University of California Press). 25 May 2021.

[cryptid-killjoy]

Valentine's Day

Kuzco and Clopin have celebrated many o' many holidays together. At this point in their lives between birthdays, anniversaries, Christmases, and all the others inbetween it could leave gifting to run a little dry. This was especially true when they had the attitudes of people who could live off of nothing if they had to as Kuzco's once so coveted "off the grid" life, but now also were back to having the wealth of royalty. They wanted for nothing and needed nothing. They'd given each other everything usual and so much of the unusual. They'd given each other detrimental and completely mental. This year Kuzco was going back to nostalgic and sentimental. Their roots.

Being back in Peru was familiar and strange all the same. It was a place he was welcome and yet also a place he was never quite welcome to begin with. Of course after his disappearance the place was welcoming him back with open arms like some long lost commodity. It didn't mean he'd forgotten what it was like before, what he had been running from, why he ran into Clopin's arms to begin with. Having his long lost relative's namesake ended up being a heavy burden no matter how many generations had passed. A big part of him wanted to run back to the other half of his heritage in Italy. Being back here started to become a stark reminder of it all despite his daughter starting to change the government, the world there at large.

Memories stung. Clung. But, there were good ones too.

Machu Pichu.

He recalled the first time he took Clopin there. He opened up to him and told him of how he played there as a child. He played hide and seek and used all the ruins and structures like hide outs and secret forts. He had one in particular he'd hide from the secret councel in. He'd go there and they'd search and search. The whole village would be looking and he'd be right there hidden on the mountain happy as can be all alone. Then he'd get scared when it'd start to rain too hard or he'd get hungry and finally have to go home. He felt sneaky and he felt like he had a fun story to tell this too cool off the grid guy that he had it in him to be like him too. He wanted to convince him. That was the area of Machu Pichu he was taking Clopin for Valentine's Day.

He had a picnic ready. The New Chef helped him with a lot it, but he had a lot of the brainstorming going on. He had samples of all the different sorts of Peruvian candies a person might sample if first coming like they were tourists again just for kicks. Then he had Peruvian lilies mixed with roses in a vase with some pear cider wine.

It would be all set up when they'd arrive at the familiar spot. Kuzco's groove would be softly going in the background. It wasn't Smashing Pumpkins today. It was Electricity by Theme Song Guy. This particular song had been Kuzco's song for a long time and it might have been titled the same power that their dear friend Flo had, but that was actually coincidental and had nothing to do with why it was Kuzco's song. It was a metaphor chosen for his groove magic. His groove magic was like the feeling of electricity, like coming alive.

This was very important for today inside Kuzco's feelings. He'd been stuffed up a long time between hiding on their private island, raising their daughter, staying on Laveau land, just all of it. Now here they were. Piper changed it all. They'd been through so much and he wouldn't change a thing. They always made the best of every single day and he knew they always would. But, what do you get someone who has everything and needs nothing who means so much to you? Sure, he could go for another funny gift. He could. He usually did. He liked to laugh. But, this year felt different to him. Everything felt different. Valentine's Day never felt like a big deal to Kuzco but today it did.

He sat down with Clopin and even though he'd heard the song before because he recalled telling him TSG gave him this song he still made sure he listened to every lyric as he poured their drinks.

I can't really explain it I haven't got the words It's a feeling that you can't control I suppose it's like forgetting Losing who you are And at the same time Something makes you whole It's like that there's a music Playing in your ear And I'm listening, and I'm listening And then I disappear

And then I feel a change Like a fire deep inside Something bursting me wide open Impossible to hide

And suddenly I'm flying Flying like a bird Like electricity Electricity Sparks inside of me And i'm free, I'm free

It's a bit like being angry It's a bit like being scared Confused and all mixed up And mad as hell It's like when you've been crying And you're empty, and you're full I don't know what it is It's hard to tell

It's like that there's some music Playing in your ear But the music Is impossible Impossible to hear

But then I feel it move me Like a burning deep inside Something bursting me wide open Impossible to hide

Then suddenly I'm flying Flying like a bird Like electricity Electricity Sparks inside of me And I'm free, I'm free

Electricity Sparks inside of me And I'm free, I'm free Ohhhh-oh-whoa... I'm free.

He let the music continue to play without words softly behind them as he spoke after.

"Remember? He wrote that about my groove. So I wouldn't feel bad about getting in trouble when I couldn't control my music when I was younger. It was part of me. It made me free. It was the only time I felt like me. Everyone always wanted to supress me and he found a way to make sure I could still be me with the Theme Song Guy Band so I could still go outside. So I could live the best he could figure out anyway."

He nodded his head. His chest hurt a little recalling memories of TSG. But, there was a point to all this he was trying to get to.

"I don't know Papa Cougs. I think something changed along the way. I love you and all that. We know that. That's always been a given or we wouldn't be married. Okay look. What I'm trying to say is I brought you out here to say, you're my groove. Like you are my groove. If I've never said it before I need to say it right now. I can't groove without you. I used to need groove to feel free, to be me. But, now I need you to feel groove in like everything else I do because I can't do anything without groove. I don't function without groove. You spark my groove. Yeah. You're the spark to my groove. That's it. You ignite it. You bring me to life inside. I just felt the need to say that today."

The music got louder as he spoke behind him as his hype in figuring out his words formed with his aged, chubbed, but ever boyish, charming face.

#kuzpin

[mediaevalmusereads]

The Bridge of San Luis Rey. By Thornton Wilder. Harper Perennial, 2021 (original publication: 1927).

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Genre: literary fiction

Series: N/A

Summary: On Friday noon, July the twentieth, 1714, the finest bridge in all Peru broke and precipitated five travelers into the gulf below. With this celebrated sentence Thornton Wilder begins The Bridge of San Luis Rey, one of the towering achievements in American fiction and a novel read throughout the world.By chance, a monk witnesses the tragedy. Brother Juniper then embarks on a quest to prove that it was divine intervention rather than chance that led to the deaths of those who perished in the tragedy. His search leads to his own death -- and to the author's timeless investigation into the nature of love and the meaning of the human condition.

***Full review below.***

Content Warnings: attempted suicide

Overview: I don't know much about Thornton Wilder (or about 20th century American literature, for that matter). I haven't read or seen Our Town, so my evaluation of this book is coming out of complete ignorance. I happened to find it on a list of recommended historical fiction novels, and the premise was intriguing, so I gave it a go. Overall, I was surprised by how much I liked this book. Wilder's characters were eccentric and compelling, and his prose style brought them to life in rich, vivid detail. While I can see some readers become frustrated with the lack of an overarching narrative, the individual character portraits were so captivating that this book gets 4.5 stars from me.

Writing: Wilder's prose is superb. It feels elegant without being overly lyrical or formal; it brings characters to life with descriptions evocative of a 18th or 19th century folktale. I really loved the hint of "wisdom literature" that Wilder injected into his writing, and I loved that the book felt old-fashioned yet fresh and new at the same time.

Plot: There isn't really a plot to this book so much as there is a number of character portraits that are brought together following the collapse of a Peruvian bridge. When the bridge of San Luis Rey collapses and sends 5 people falling to their death, a witness named Brother Juniper resolves to investigate in hopes of convincing the locals that their deaths were part of God's plan. The bulk of the novel, then, includes descriptions of the victims, their backgrounds, and their lives so that Brother Juniper may definitely answer the question "why did these 5 people die?"

If you like plot-driven stories, then you probably won't enjoy this book, but if you like character-driven works, this is a spectacular example. The characters all have unique quirks and an array of desires, and many of them have an almost obsessive preoccupation with the object of their affections. Doña María, for example, is desperate for her daughter to love her while Esteban is so connected to his brother that his death leaves him feeling empty. Themes such as love/obsession and religion/spirituality are woven so deftly throughout the novel that it was a delight to see them reappear at different points, each exploring a new facet.

I also very much admired the way Thornton made all the characters feel interconnected. Though they didn't always interact with one another, they belonged to the same community, often crossing paths with prominent secondary characters. This meant that their deaths didn't feel random, but didn't feel like a punishment, either. Instead, it felt like Thornton was painting a picture of a tragedy, one that is deeply felt by the whole town and which has ripple effects across different strata of society. It was incredibly satisfying to read.

Characters: There are quite a few characters in this book, so I'll speak about them more generally rather than giving a detailed critique.

The five victims of the bridge were complex, somewhat eccentric, and very well-realized. I loved that each of them felt unique but all fit into the same world without issue, and I appreciated the way they were used to explore the major themes of the book. While each of them were some mixture of good qualities and bad ones, I didn't get the sense that I was reading about heroes and villains. Each one had attributes that made me like them or feel sorry for them, and each had things that made me side eye them a little bit.

Secondary characters were also masterfully used, often showing up as anchor points across multiple chapters. Both the abbess and the actress, for example, are powerful personalities, and they have unique relationships with each of the victims that makes this book feel like a series of interconnected, overlapping paths. If you enjoy those kinds of "composite novels," you'll definitely appreciate Thornton's work here.

TL;DR: The Bridge of San Luis Rey is a masterful meditation on the meaning of human life, made all the more impactful by its elegant, gnomish prose and cast of complex characters. While some readers might be turned off by lack of a tight narrative and the open-endedness of the denouement, this book is a wonderful study of character, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in creating memorable, impactful character vignettes.

[stvnmvrsh]

back to the old house - the smiths

Stan's right hand gripped the grimy steering wheel of his overworked pick-up truck as the other ran through his hair. Visiting his parents back in South Park was always difficult for him. He lived in San Diego now, working in construction as a senior project manager and living in a typical sloppy bachelor pad. He was now paying a visit to his hometown after his most recent major project at the request of his mother. South Park and its familiar embrace of snow-capped mountains, evergreen woods, and dysfunctional nature should have been comforting, but not to him.

He could feel his resolve crumble as he drove deeper into the town. His eyes scan his surroundings. At the elementary school that all his friends attended. There was the community center his parents had meetings. Craig's house, where Stan and his friends convinced him to use his birthday money to start a Peruvian flute band. Clyde's house, where his mother died on the toilet. That damn bus stop. Butters's house, where his horrible father grounded him constantly. Eric's, where he thought he could fly so he jumped off his roof. Then, his own. Stan's stare was trained on the house he grew up in.

He could feel his heart clench as he pulled into the driveway. He kills the engine and unbuckles his seatbelt, his hand now resting on the door handle. He sighs dismally as he allows his vision to stray next door. Just as it has always been, that olive green house stood. Kyle's house. Out of all his childhood friends, he had at least expected Kyle to keep in touch with him. Except they hadn't. Too busy, he supposed. The last he heard from him was that he was pursuing a career in law, just like his father.

His eyes grow misty and he tilts his head back, trying to keep his tears from falling. Regret and longing fill his gut as he thinks of Kyle's curly, red hair. His aquiline nose, wispy lashes brushing up against gold-framed glasses, and smart mouth. His thoughts drift back to memories of years ago.

---

They were at Stark's pond where Kyle asked to meet up.

"I got accepted, Stan! Holy shit, I can't fucking believe it! I'm going to Yale! The Yale, Stan!" Kyle was elated, gripping the front of Stan's brown coat, whooping and bouncing up and down. Stan's smile was uncontrollable, reciprocating Kyle's.

"Confuckingrats, man. I'm so proud of you! If anyone does, you totally deserve it." Stan was brimming with the feeling. He watched Kyle excel in their academic careers, his intelligence rivaling Wendy's and Tolkien's, their class's valedictorian and salutatorian. He remembers holding up flashcards for him, helping him study at odd hours, and accompanying him on trips to the library. All his hard work paid off.

Suddenly, Kyle deeply frowned. Stan didn't have any time to ask him what the matter was as he saw Kyle's lower lip wobble. He found himself enveloped in Kyle's arms, holding onto each other tightly. He could smell the jojoba oil in his coiled tresses.

Kyle was wailing profusely into the crook of Stan's neck. His breath tickled Stan so bad, he erupted into goosebumps. "Are you shitting me? I couldn't have done this without you, you idiot. Sure, I had the brains to get this far, but you- you had my back when I needed you. You didn't have to do anything of the sort, but you did."

Stan melted further into Kyle's warmth as his throat tightened, burning. "I'd do anything for you, dude."

He thinks that was when he realized he loved Kyle for the first time.

---

Slowly but surely, they drifted apart. Being 2,865 miles away wasn't helping. Life simply just got in the way. Thus, Stan finds himself in his childhood house's driveway, relentless, involuntary tears running down his face, brooding over his incessant love for his friend.

He didn't know why he was so angry. Was it because they fell out? Or because he didn't put more effort into maintaining their relationship? Because he never got to tell Kyle he loved him?

Perhaps, it was all of it.

#sp angst #south park stan #stan marsh #kyle broflovski #sp kyle #sp style #south park style #south park #sp stan #im literally so sad im gonna write some fluff soon #sp stanky

[thesinglesjukebox]

LENIN - "INTIRAYMI"

Next, from Jessica, a Peruvian house banger with layers...

[7.46]

Jessica Doyle: Don't worry about the backstory yet, there's no rush. Let's start by enjoying a party jam whose ambition shows in its structure: in an era of two-minute songs and dance tracks with no actual rhythm, "Intiraymi" has not only the required bouncy chorus that ends with "ĄEs un carnaval!" but a distinct repeated pre-chorus and a distinct bridge during which to gear up for the final dance. Also, let's face it, this is the best use of strings in a K-pop or K-pop-adjacent song since the legendary "The Ghost of Wind." Even the song's more subtle touches -- that Lenin ends the initial rounds of the chorus on a lower note, so it has more impact when he doubles himself going higher at the end -- work in its favor. Okay, now we can throw in the backstory: Lenin Tamayo Pinares is the son of an Andean folksinger and native speaker of Quecha, and not only a self-produced musician but one committed to using contemporary Andean music as an agent of collective empowerment for indigenous minorities (and hopefully getting an undergraduate thesis done on the topic while he's at it). Fun is fun, and "Intiraymi" is well-crafted, contagious fun no matter how little time you want to invest in it, but you do need a little bit of context to understand why I want this man to realize all of his ambitions and then some. [9]

Nortey Dowuona: "This is not only a positive message," he said of his music. "It's a battle." [10]

Taylor Alatorre: If I were to listen to this without looking any further into Quechua culture, I'd have to guess that the Intiraymi is basically akin to a Copa América celebration. Lenin shows more interest here in creating sounds with cross-border appeal than in putting centuries of suppressed history on display, as is fully his right. Those violin breaks act as tethers to a living past rather than dusted-off artifacts of an ancient one, more evocative of extended family gatherings than Inca and Chanka glories. The sense of forced fun is never entirely absent, but that's something it has in common with family gatherings as well. [6]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: Intiraymi is a (Southern Hemisphere) Winter Solstice festival, so it feels appropriate to review "Intiraymi" as I experience the Northern Hemisphere equivalent. This is a banger for the shortest day of the year, a concentrated, poised delivery of hooks that eventually folds into a giddy, delirious fit of ecstasy. [8]

Ian Mathers: Of course, there are only so many combinations of different letters out there; when different languages share the same character sets, you're going to get some weird and/or funny overlaps. Which explains why someone going by Lenin is singing the praises of an Incan festival for the sun god. He's got an interesting background, but I don't have the context to know how significant the subject matter here is. But that's all kind of just background; I don't even need the subtitles to tell that the chorus is celebrating some sort of carnival, and infectiously so. [7]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: An ebullient little house-pop charmer. It's a bit too cheery for my tastes, but those strings are something to celebrate. [5]

Brad Shoup: LENIN's very unsweaty take on K-pop is the draw for sure, but dig that chorus: it sounds like Suede. [7]

Michelle Myers: When you're a K-Pop fan, everything starts to sound like idol music. Tate McRae? She's K-Pop. Ed Sheeran? Totally K-Pop. Nu Metal? That's just Ateez with guitars. But Lenin Tamayo is different. He's purposefully trying to make music that sounds like the Peruvian equivalent of an early 2010s Kenzie banger. [8]

Frank Kogan: This is excitement from the start, the danceable violin riff and the floor beats coming in, a melody with punch and lilt, and on from there: fiddle breaks, sensitive idol star interludes, absolutely sing-a-long-able chorus. His voice is as small as Hilary Duff's, and the wails are more gestured at than actually wailing; so he's getting by on brains more than vocal cords. That's not bad at all, if the arrangements and songwriting get the music to go where he wants it, which they emphatically do here. [7]

Kayla Beardslee: It's so hard to go wrong with a rousing piano-house banger, and this one certainly doesn't! [7]

Aaron Bergstrom: The Inca had a pretty advanced understanding of astronomy. Based on the ruins they left behind, we know they could calculate the solstices with an impressive level of precision. They knew they lived in a clockwork universe, that the days would get shorter until a calculable date, after which they would start to get longer again. And yet, despite this scientific certainty, they still devoutly observed the Inti Raymi, a nine-day festival around the winter solstice dedicated to worshipping the sun god Inti. It's possible there were a few people in those crowds who gave themselves over fully to the supernatural, who worried that they days would keep getting shorter forever unless they properly demonstrated their devotion, but I think most people knew that the sun would return no matter what. That didn't make the Inti Raymi any less important to them. The return of the sun demands celebration, regardless of how your personal cosmology explains it. Anyway, I've been playing this song a lot lately. Today is the shortest day of the year. Tomorrow will be five seconds longer. I'm not saying I caused that, but I'm also not going to stop playing the song. Praise Inti. [9]

Will Adams: How refreshing for a cry of "es un carnaval!" to actually sound like it. How crucial it is for dance-pop bangers to be a little cheesy. [7]

Katherine St Asaph: Power in cheese. [7]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox ]

#lenin #music #peruvian music #music writing #music criticism #music reviews #the singles jukebox #Youtube

[louis-in-red]

I saw Louis in my city!!!

Ever since that boy stepped in Peru, Lima has been WAY TOO SUNNY for autumn/winter! Usually, Lima is very gray with minimun sunlight during this time of the year, but the sun really came out the days Louis was here, and I'm so happy because the city looked extra beautiful (he also stayed in one of the fanciest places in the city near the beach and the hotel had a pool so I hope he took advantage of it).

I couldn't get the day off yesterday because I was on holiday last week, so my chances of queuing early were none (I wasn't planing on going in the morning either way but I didn't want to go late). Because of work (adult life sucks) I arrived at the venue around 7pm (also the venue is far away from where I live, it took me an hour to get there), expecting everyone to already be inside because doors opened at 6pm, but I was surprised to see a very long long line that circled the Mall (the venue is inside a mega huge mall). I waited for my friends to arrived and we waited closed to the entrance until everybody got in, but after a while we realized it was better if we just queued😩. At the end we entered around 8:30pm when Sunroom was already playing so we missed the majority of their set. Since there was time till Louis started, I bought merch (the black t-shirt with the red eye) and then just waited with my friends for the concert to star 😄

He was late 😅 like for 10 minutes I think? but soon enough we saw the band getting on stage and the lights and We Made It started playing and then HE GOT ON STAGE and MY GOD!!!! I couldn't see him properly because I was almost in the back haha but the screens helped a lot!! (I saw jdelf🔪…) And I have to mention here how important and relevant was to start the concert with that song for us Peruvians because I know many Peruvians Louies fought very hard to have Louis here in our country which often is not included in tours 🥺. It was extra special and I was super emocional during that song. The energy in the venue was great since the start, specially during the 1D songs... which tbh I didn't mind because I know the fanbase is still very much 1D focused, but they totally made the concert about HIM. I didn't see any signs about a 1D reunion or about any ship or any dolls that weren't Louis, at least in my section, and that made me so happy because I was quite scared since I know how popular that ship is here in Peru (someone even mentioned it in the news but I won't focus on that), and from the photos I've seen of the barricade, I think the focus all the time was on Louis, which is how it's supposed to be.

I was sort of surprised that many didn't know the lyrics of Change(s) or Copy, but then I realized maybe it's because most of the people around me seemed like casual fans (not very much invested in the personal life or obvs not into deep in the fandom as me haha) and maybe they didn't even watch any livestreams before. At the end I realized it didn't matter that not everyone sang the new songs, because when Louis asked us to scream we delivered. I was also a bit concerned about the outdoor venue because a close one helps with the acoustic of the screams and the noise (and I wanted us to be super loud), but the crowd really came through!!! like the energy was amazing, super fun and electric and you could tell everyone there loved Louis.

I have to mention how special hearing Change(s) felt this time, as well as DLIBYH. Mainly because for a while I was feeling a bit meh about many things, including my job and in times the fandom, like for a bit I was feeling way too many things and many aspects started to bothered me way more that they should... I'm rambling haha... I feel way better now, like I think I needed this leg of the tour to happen to feel this energy, to feel Louis close to us, and those two songs are just... so great 😭 so comforting. Even my friend who didn't listen to Change(s) before said it was the best song, lyrically and emotionally and that she can't wait for the next album to come out (honestly same haha).

Now... Michael... what the hell??!!! he is so HOT!!! playing his guitar, being all daddy on stage and then all shy when fans approach him in the streets. Like everyone was always screaming for him, specially me and my friends haha like the thirst for Mikey is real (Louis would approve, I know it). My friend already follows him on insta and says he is a hottie 🥵

I loved being there with one of my best friends! since I'm always second guessing everything I was thinking maybe she wasn't going to enjoy it that much since she isn't fan of Louis like me, but I was surprised to see that she knew every song in Walls and that she loved the concert and that now she is hopefully closer to being a Louie 🫢 The other friends I was with were also happy and jumping and singing at the top of their lungs, and they just made the whole experience a great one!! I felt so young again!!

Last but not least, experiencing this in my own country was extra especial and even though I wasn't anywhere near him as I was in Buenos Aires, this felt different because ... this is where I live, this is where I was born, where I've lived most of my life... Louis WAS HERE??? AND HE LOVED IT? HE KEPT SAYING "LIMA/PERU" AND MY HEART COULDN'T TAKE IT? LIKE HE WAS THE SWEETEST VOICE??!!! And he was so baby yesterday, clean shaved and in his baggy shirt and his almost tight black jeans, and he kept saying that he felt our love, that our country was beautiful and he just has my heart you know? he already had it but now he has it more 😩

So yeah... this was long and I could probably write more but I just want to close this by saying that every time I think I couldn't be more proud of Louis, he shows me that I can. Yesterday was magical, healing, lovely. I wish Louis the very best all the time, and I hope he knows, I hope he knows how much we love him and how much he deserves this because he does❤️

#my concert #louis en peru #ltwt22: lima

[its-actually-minicika]

Hiii, first of all, this is not a request, I just wanna say I love your work especially with The Harshest Winters, you portray that psycho so well ♥ Second of all, for some reason the HW Aemond bot does not save our chats but it doesn’t matter bc we end up into each others neck every time lmao we can not pass the enemies phase, lady tully has nothing on me. The most funny thing is that since I’m peruvian, I insult him in spanish and he in high valyrian😭we both don’t have a clue at what the other is saying but we know that we are insulting each other lmao. And third of all, I am planning to shift to house of the dragon and for some reason, I feel your fic is gonna be in my subconscious and that psycho is gonna end up kidnapping me fr…So do not worry girls, I am gonna adapt the fic into a live action for you all (i am literally gonna piss myself in my first night at harrenhal tbh) xoxo🥳

PLEASEEEE THE MEME

I love this ask so much

First of all, I wanted to thank you for your kind and sweet words - they really mean the world to me. 💗🫶

Second of all, I have to see some of those chat screenshots now - they sound too funny to miss, oh my God! I've received so many asks in regards to the HW Aemond AI - though most people say that he's way to clingy and obsessive LMAO

Third of all, good luck on your endeavours! But holy hell, I do not recommend THW universe as a place to shift to 😟 I pray if you do end up doing it, you won't have to face the calamity I created (if you do tho, totally keep me in the loop, and say hi to Cain - also tell him that i'm sorry i permanently crippled him)

#mina's asks #i love my readers #the harshest winters #AEMOND AI BOT SCREENSHOTS PLS??? #also script leak when

[african-international-magazine]

The irony of the face of ‘black people’

Black has many shades today and is celebrated accordingly today. Some of the outstanding celebrations include; Black History Month, Dashiki Friday, Martin Luther King Day, Black Love Day, Juneteenth and African Freedom Day among others. The internet and digitalization at large have also played a major role in promoting “black beauty” of all shades. There are also trendy memes, and quotes with hashtags on social media to appreciate the beauty of black such as melanin rich, black is the new gold, melanin popping, black lives matter, black love, and others. The many “shades of black” is a both natural and artificial cause.

The natural cause

Natural creation of God.

God created everything in nature variety without any partiality. Likewise, the creation of humanity is in variety of race, skin tone, height, body size, and so forth. In addition, variety comes with variety such that in different races are different skin shades, hair color, body sizes, and others. Examples of shades of black light skinned people, dark skinned people, natural blondes, blue eyed people, biracial to just to mention a few. Similarly, other things in nature such as dog breeds, snake types, aquatic nature and others are in variety.

Biracial and Interracial child bearing

from the early ages and most commonly at the present time, of interracial or biracial relationships have been responsible for biracial/ interracial shades of black. This is because a black person regardless of a partner has black kids and their kid’s kids are black.

The artificial cause

Beauty trend

From discriminatory acts such as ‘black face’, with time and trends people have grown to celebrate and appreciate dark skin. prominent figures such as Nykakim Gatwetch, an African- American model that has excelled in top class modelling as the world’s darkest model. Tems’, the face of Nigerian beauty and Lupita Nyong’o, an African- American listed as one of the most beautiful women in the world by Forbes. These beautiful women of dark skin have induced the beauty of black skin in the fashion/ lifestyle.

The beauty of black has had many people black-fishing to the point of skin tanning and bleaching (skin alterations) plastic surgery, makeup, culture appropriation and inspiration and the like, it is now a fashion trend to look “black”. The media has had influence on assuming some of these “African beauty standards”. For instance, there is a trendy look today which is a darker skin shade of light skin, hair (wig, weave and even natural hair) like a Brazilian, Peruvian, Indian, Vietnamese and others referred to as ‘human hair’, Asian eyes complimented with Egyptian inspired makeup, big boobs and big butt. This trendy look is evidenced on social media on platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest.

Some of The most extreme makeovers to a black person are a German actress and model, Martina Big (baptized as Malaika Kubwa) and American activist Racheal Dolezal.

Malaika kubwa is known to be the first white woman to undergo skin darkening surgery with a hormone called melatonin with gigantic breast implants. according to Martina now Malaika, as a child she felt she did not fit in hence she “resorted to be black.” Kubwa declared that she is merely trying to look the way she feels comfortable with and that her transformation is a personal choice. She also stated that she believes that race is only a social construct. Kubwa was born with pale skin and blonde hair but her race presently is still not determined.

As an activist, promoting diversity was part of her upbringing of Racheal Dolezal allegedly. In an interview on NBC channel back in 2015, Dolezal did not deny her biological parents are white or that she has changed how she looks at herself over the years. She also admitted not having corrected various published reports over the years labeling her as transracial, biracial and black.

The face of black comes with different shades and various form of beauty that deserves the appreciation and accolade. It is inevitable that a face of black is now a fashion trend. However, Plastic surgery, makeup, and other trends distort the perception of beauty.

To add on, some shades of black have been questioned and changed. Ironically, during from the early ages of interracial or biracial child bearing, children (even today) were/ are classified as black and at no point is the other race considered in them, hence other shades of black. However interracial society were somewhat considered better and had more privilege than darker skin society. this birthed colorism and a cause to artificial cause.

For illustration, Dolezal argues that she is black because she has black ancestry and American golfer tiger woods identified as African American, identifies himself as “cablinasian” due to his multiracial identity. These include black (African-American), Indian (native American),

#afrofuturism #magazine #africa #panafrican #social media #my writing #afrique #african politics #artists on tumblr #art #meghan markle #tiger woods #hailey bailey #chloe bailey #zendaya #davido #mariah carey #kelly rowland #stop appropriating my culture #black lives matter #racialization #racial trauma #racial equality #racial disparities #racial change #racial #culture #cultural exchange #white washed #melanin

[turtlesandfrogs]

Here’s the thing about quinoa: the Guardian was wrong, and even they have put out articles saying as much (without of course ever recognizing that fact). The Quinoa boom actually helped the poorest people (namely the farmers), and others besides (which seems like the best case scenario to me). The quinoa boom improved economic conditions, but it did have other effects, such as less sustainable farming practices taking hold.

I did stop eating Quinoa around the time of the boom, but not entirely because of the articles. I, an American, couldn’t afford it. (Over $6 a pound for a grain!? Ridiculous! No matter how healthy it is.)

I personally find it somewhat suspicious that a trend that was helping poor people was decried.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/03/31/472453674/your-quinoa-habit-really-did-help-perus-poor-but-theres-trouble-ahead

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2013/01/quinoa_bad_for_bolivian_and_peruvian_farmers_ignore_the_media_hand_wringing.html

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/jul/17/quinoa-threat-food-security-improving-peruvian-farmers-lives-superfood

#quinoa #it came up so I wanted to put some info out there

[richincolor]

New Releases

Quite a few YA books by BIPOC creators are launching this week! Are any of these on your TBR pile?

Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester

Verónica, a Peruvian‑American teen, must deal with both her painful hip dysplasia and her overprotective immigrant parents, all while chasing her dream to become a professional mermaid in this gorgeously written, authentic novel about secrets and finding your wings (or tail).

Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed

A powerful, gripping YA novel about the insidious nature of racism, the terrible costs of unearthing hidden truths, and the undeniable power of hope, by New York Times bestselling author Samira Ahmed. Perfect for fans of Sadie and Dear Martin.

Safiya Mirza dreams of becoming a journalist. And one thing she’s learned as editor of her school newspaper is that a journalist’s job is to find the facts and not let personal biases affect the story. But all that changes the day she finds the body of a murdered boy. Jawad Ali was fourteen years old when he built a cosplay jetpack that a teacher mistook for a bomb. A jetpack that got him arrested, labeled a terrorist—and eventually killed. But he’s more than a dead body, and more than “Bomb Boy.” He was a person with a life worth remembering. Driven by Jawad’s haunting voice guiding her throughout her investigation, Safiya seeks to tell the whole truth about the murdered boy and those who killed him because of their hate-based beliefs.

This gripping and powerful book uses an innovative format and lyrical prose to expose the evil that exists in front of us, and the silent complicity of the privileged who create alternative facts to bend the truth to their liking.

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson

In this complex and emotionally resonant novel, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth.

Lou has enough confusion in front of her this summer. She’ll be working in her family’s ice cream shack with her newly ex-boyfriend—whose kisses never made her feel desire, only discomfort—and her former best friend, King, who is back in their Canadian prairie town after disappearing three years ago without a word. But when she gets a letter from her biological father—a man she hoped would stay behind bars for the rest of his life—Lou immediately knows that she cannot meet him, no matter how much he insists.

While King’s friendship makes Lou feel safer and warmer than she would have thought possible, when her family’s business comes under threat, she soon realizes that she can’t ignore her father forever.

A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan

Mina Rahman has a plan for her future: • Finally win the Golden Ivy student film competition • Get into her dream school across the country • Leave New York City behind once and for all

Mina’s ticket to winning the competition falls into her lap when indie film star—and known heartbreaker—Emmitt Ramos enrolls in her high school under a secret identity to research his next role. When Mina sets out to persuade Emmitt to join her cause, he offers her a deal instead: he’ll be in her short film…if she acts as a tour guide to help him with a photography contest.

As Mina ventures across the five boroughs with Emmitt by her side, the city she grew up in starts to look different and more like home than it ever has before. With the competition deadline looming, Mina’s dreams—which once seemed impenetrable—begin to crumble, and she’s forced to ask herself: Is winning worth losing everything?

The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero

Magic will burn you up.

Sent to stay with her aunt in Prague and witness the humble life of an artist, Ilana Lopez—a biracial Jewish girl—finds herself torn between her dream of becoming a violinist and her immigrant parents’ desire for her to pursue a more stable career.

When she discovers a forgotten Jewish cemetery behind her aunt’s cottage, she meets the ghost of a kindhearted boy named Benjamin, who died over a century ago. As Ilana restores Benjamin’s grave, he introduces her to the enchanted side of Prague, where ghosts walk the streets and their kisses have warmth. But Benjamin isn’t the only one interested in Ilana. Rudolph Wassermann, a man with no shadow, has become fascinated with her and the music she plays. He offers to share his magic, so Ilana can be with Benjamin and pursue her passion for violin. But after Ilana discovers the truth about Wassermann and how Benjamin became bound to the city, she resolves to save the boy she loves, even if it means losing him—forever.

With spellbinding verse prose, R.M. Romero channels the spirit of myth into a brilliantly original tale, inspired by her experiences restoring Jewish cemeteries in Eastern Europe.

Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee Sometimes bitter rivalries can brew something sweet

Theo Mori wants to escape. Leaving Vermont for college means getting away from working at his parents’ Asian American café and dealing with their archrivals’ hopeless son Gabi who’s lost the soccer team more games than Theo can count. Gabi Moreno is miserably stuck in the closet. Forced to play soccer to hide his love for dance and iced out by Theo, the only openly gay guy at school, Gabi’s only reprieve is his parents’ Puerto Rican bakery and his plans to take over after graduation.

But the town’s new fusion café changes everything. Between the Mori’s struggling shop and the Moreno’s plan to sell their bakery in the face of the competition, both boys find their dreams in jeopardy. Then Theo has an idea—sell photo-worthy food covertly at school to offset their losses. When he sprains his wrist and Gabi gets roped in to help, they realize they need to work together to save their parents’ shops but will the new feelings rising between them be enough to send their future plans up in smoke?

Bright (Shine #2) by Jessica Jung Couture gowns, press parties, international travel. Rachel Kim is at the top of her game. Girls Forever is now the number-one K-pop group in the world, and her fame skyrockets after her viral airport styling attracts the attention of fashion’s biggest names. Her life’s a swirl of technicolor glamour and adoring fans. Rachel can’t imagine shining any brighter.

The only thing that’s missing is love—but Rachel’s determined to follow the rules. In her world, falling in love can cost you everything.

Enter Alex. When Rachel literally falls head over designer heels into his lap on a crowded metro, she’s tempted to give up her anti-love vows. Alex is more than just heart-stopping dimples and adorably quirky banter. He believes in Rachel’s future—both in music and in fashion.

But the higher you rise, the farther you have to fall. And when a shocking act of betrayal shatters her world, Rachel must finally listen to her heart.

Only on the Weekends by Dean Atta

Mack. Karim. Finlay. Mack never thought he’d find love, let alone with two people. Will he make the right choice? And can love last for ever? A must-read queer love story for fans of Sex Education, written in verse by Dean Atta.

Fifteen-year-old Mack is a hopeless romantic – he blames the films he’s grown up watching. He has liked Karim for as long as he can remember, and is ecstatic when Karim becomes his boyfriend – it feels like love.

But when Mack’s dad gets a job on a film in Scotland, Mack has to move, and soon hediscovers how painful love can be. It’s horrible being so far away from Karim, but the worst part is that Karim doesn’t make the effort to visit. Love shouldn’t be only on the weekends.

Then, when Mack meets actor Finlay on a film set, he experiences something powerful, a feeling like love at first sight. How long until he tells Karim – and when will his old life and new life collide?

#long post #ya lit #new releases #a show for two #hollow fires #breathe and count back from ten #the summer of bitter and sweet #cafe con lychee #only on the weekends #the ghosts of rose hill