#deadauthors

[ya-world-challenge]

Book Review: The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu (🇬🇧Scotland)

[image 1: book cover: a European city at night in moody blues and black with a seated classical statue to each side, and underneath, an underground chamber with pillars and stairs. Title overlaid in yellow whimsical spooky font; image 2: world map showing Scotland; image 3: North Merchiston Cemetery & St. Michael’s Parish, Edinburgh: a green cemetery with some headstones fallen over, behind trees in the background, a square church tower. Source: wikimedia commons]

The Library of the Dead

Author: T.L. Huchu

Category: MG/YA

YA World Challenge read for 🇬🇧 Scotland

My Notes

I rolled the randomizer for Zimbabwe (yeah, we're back to the randomizer, but only sometimes.) So I checked out Tendai Huchu's The Hairdresser of Harare but felt hmm, this is kind of too "mundane adult" for my purposes. But I moved on to the same author's YA book and man am I glad I did because The Library of the Dead is awesome. BUT... it's super super Scottish. Despite the MC's Zimbabwean heritage popping in a little it's one of those books where essentially the city is also a character, you know, and that city is Edinburgh. So I'm going to file this one as a read for Scotland, and either go back to the first choice or see what I can find for Zimbabwe!

First line

I’m really not supposed to be doing this, but a girl’s gotta get paid.

Review

Ropa is a tough, don’t-give-a-shit teen who’s dropped out of school to be the family breadwinner with her talent for ghosttalking, delivering messages between the dead and their loved ones. She doesn’t have time to deal when a new ghost wants help finding her disappeared son, but ends up getting roped into it anyway. Along the way there’s also a magical secret society library, and Ropa’s excitable new sidekick Priya, who’s riding her wheelchair on ceiling when they meet.

So, Ropa’s voice is what makes this book. She’s cynical, irreverent, oh-so-colorful, and with a fierce duty to protect the family she’s got left. I really enjoy when books have voice, and this one really does. Sometimes I wasn’t sure when the author was using Scottish-isms or when he was making stuff up, because I think there is a mix of both, and it’s fun. 

The setting is a sort of near-future semi-dystopian Edinburgh with Magic is Officially Known mixed in. Through some mix of climate, riots, and resource scarcity that’s only hinted at, Scotland has become a proud but sharply class-divided place under an English absolute monarchy. The city features heavily, and those familiar with Edinburgh and able to recognize the streets and landmarks could probably get extra enjoyment out of this book.

The mystery itself is pretty straightforward. If you are looking for a plot to really flip your world upsidedown you won’t find it here - the book is pretty MG level in that regard. I recommend it more for the atmosphere and the characters. The library and secret society are an intriguing magical academia setting, and this book seems to be setting it up for more exploration in future books.

Though this is upper MG, as far as colorful language I think our British friends are much less prudish than Americans with regard to children’s books - just something to keep in mind. (There isn’t any sexual or overly violet content.)

Overall, I sped through this book and really enjoyed it, and would definitely recommend. It also has an all-POC core cast. 

There is a sequel, Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments, and a third book in the works.

Other reps: #homelessness #disabled wheelchair-using side character #no romance

Genres: #paranormal #mystery #dystopian #magic

★  ★  ★  ★  ★    5 stars    

Read it at  Bookshop.org  |  Amazon

#book review #scotland #ya world challenge #fantasy books #urban fantasy #bookblr #mg books #the library of the dead #paranormal #mystery #dystopian #magic #homelessness #physical disability #no romance #europe #5 stars

[viragoreads]

Review: Cinderella Is Dead

Review: Cinderella Is Dead

Title: Cinderella Is DeadAuthor: Kalynn BayronNarrator: Bahni TurpinPublished: 2020/07/07Listen Time: 10:31Page Count: 391Read Date: 2022/07/15-17Description: Girls team up to overthrow the kingdom in this unique and powerful retelling of Cinderella from a stunning new voice that’s perfect for fans of Dhonielle Clayton and Melissa Albert.It’s 200 years after Cinderella found her prince, but the…

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#books #reading #review

[true-antagonist]

Summer reading + cats 🐈‍⬛ : #internationalcatday #Lordbyroncat #pawsitivevibes #casanovathecat #🥀 #darkacademia #richardpapen #classiclit #classicliterature #literary #literarycommunity #bookstagram #lightacademia #readersofinstagram #writersofinstagram #teachergoth #blackwritersofinstagram #weirdblackgirl #protectweirdblackgirlsatallcosts #deadauthors #romanticacademia #biblophile #midwesterngothic #gothicacademia #asecondofwhimsy #romanticism #booksbooksbooks #newbookstagrammer #deadpoetssociety https://www.instagram.com/p/CSUYWcnLHfU/?utm_medium=tumblr

#internationalcatday #lordbyroncat #pawsitivevibes #casanovathecat #🥀 #darkacademia #richardpapen #classiclit #classicliterature #literary #literarycommunity #bookstagram #lightacademia #readersofinstagram #writersofinstagram #teachergoth #blackwritersofinstagram #weirdblackgirl #protectweirdblackgirlsatallcosts #deadauthors #romanticacademia #biblophile #midwesterngothic #gothicacademia #asecondofwhimsy #romanticism #booksbooksbooks #newbookstagrammer #deadpoetssociety

[strandbooks]

I Read Dead People: chilling tales from authors passed 👻🔮. Get in the Halloween spirit by checking out our latest blog post on Medium 🎃 https://medium.com/@strandbookstore/i-read-dead-people-1c7920d29f21?source=linkShare-cd1bb563af9c-1508765805 •• #blog #tbr #readstagram #book #bookshelf #mediummonday #halloween #deadauthors #booklist (at Strand Book Store)

#blog #halloween #booklist #tbr #bookshelf #deadauthors #book #readstagram #mediummonday

[jamesadomian]

In honor of his 198th birthday, here again is "Walt Whitman" on the Dead Authors Podcast. #WaltWhitman #DeadAuthors #PaulFTompkins #JamesAdomian

#jamesadomian #waltwhitman #paulftompkins #deadauthors

[copperbadge]

ameliahcrowley replied to your post “Sam I'm confused. Are you rewriting stealing Harry into origfic or...”

The Marauders are now Millenials... And just like that I feel oh, so very old. (Yes, I do technically know that Millenials are grown ups now, I just don't like to think about it). 

As the self-proclaimed “Oldest Living Millennial” I feel ya. 

lupin5th replied to your post “Despite all the reblogging and a midday grocery run and technically...”

I can just keep repeating that I am SO looking forward to reading this story when you have it ready for us, and also just how gleeful I am that a deadAuthor's ugliness can result in this new story birth (probably plural, I wouldn't be surprised if a lot more people do this) and I just love that the internet and fandom and just human nature will take something that is a bit nice but has lots of crap clinging to it and just say "yeah friends, we can do better can't we" and then do it and this seriously embodies a big part of my hope in humans as a narrative, co-operative species which, with all the sht blowing up in the world, is a very nice, tangible thing to have right now ^_^

Repeating it really does help, tbh. Positive comments keep the momentum going on this one!  I’ve never fully understood why Stealing Harry inspires such a passionate response in so many people -- I love that it does, and I have some theories, but unlike most other aspects of internet fame I don’t truly understand Stealing Harry. But wow, it does inspire an amazing reaction. 

I wish it wasn’t necessary to feel like we have to take a story and own it simply because its author turned out to be a jerk, but at least we have the ability :D 

fruitgoat replied to your post “ranuel replied to your post “Oh god, Remus on Moxie. I don’t know if...”

This reminds me of when my mom got Cracker Barrel and Crate & Barrel confused and wondered why my brother and his fiancée would have their wedding registry at such a random restaurant/store.

A cracker barrel wedding registry would be fascinating to see. 

voyageboots replied to your post “Sam I'm confused. Are you rewriting stealing Harry into origfic or...”

We could even describe this endeavor as: Stealing Harry

I SEE WHAT U DID THERE

cromverywell replied to your post “drgaellon replied to your post “ranuel replied to your post “Oh...”

the cheese crock, a camp gay hillbilly cafe founded by dolly parton in the 1970s in direct opposition to ronald reagan, aids, and nasty cracker barrell! (although maybe for dolly the Cheese Cake)

LOL! I actually am working on a backstory for it, even though it will be in like, three paragraphs in one short story tacked onto the end of a larger work :D 

#reply all #cromverywell #voyageboots #fruitgoat #ameliahcrowley #lupin5th

[coollovebibliophilethings]

Sit the Dead by Jeffrey Ford

#JeffreyFord does the creepy and awesome yet again.... #Teeth

Title: Sit the DeadAuthor: Jeffrey FordIn: Teeth: Vampire Tales (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)My Bookshelves: Horror, Paranormal fantasy, VampiresDates read: 6th August 2021Pace: MediumFormat: Short storyPublisher: HarperYear: 20115th sentence, 74th page: “Let’s go in.” All he wants is for his girlfriend’s family to accept him. Even if that…

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#Horror #Jeffrey Ford #Paranormal Fantasy #Teeth - Vampire Tales #Vampires

[kalibrixton]

Day #2 of the #authorschallenge2019: Question for a Dead Author 💀 I have been in 💖💖💖 with Edgar Allan Poe since I read "Murders in the Rue Morgue" as a child. From his tragic beginnings to his tragic end, Poe's life was steeped in loss. One thing I have always admired about him as an author is the beauty found laced within his words of heartache and suffering. He wrote about the human condition: loss of life and love, addiction, pain and anguish, lack of control over even the most basic situations at times, remorse and guilt... So, what question would I most want to ask him? "Even if it only existed for a fleeting moment, what brought the most joy to your life?" I hope that even though this man faced loss after loss, that in his time on Earth, he cried at least one tear of joy before he left and felt happiness so profound, his heart was busting at the seams because it could hardly contain that level of joy 💖 What deceased author do you have a burning question for? #edgarallanpoe @edgar.allan.poe #poefanatic #deadauthor #writingchallenge #interviewwithanauthor https://www.instagram.com/p/BtZ6l3DgI1A/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17owjqc153y9e

#2 #authorschallenge2019 #edgarallanpoe #poefanatic #deadauthor #writingchallenge #interviewwithanauthor

[adorableantiquities]

Love Lovecraft, but not so much crafting your own projects? No problem! The completed H.P. Lovecraft cross stitch piece is up and ready to purchase. Order here: https://etsy.me/2QynmfG . , . #hplovecraft #lovecraft #crossstitch #geekartist #geekdesigner #adorableantiquities #cuthulu #callofcthulhu #deadauthors #bookstagram #book #literature #horror #hoopart #handmade https://www.instagram.com/p/BnwHOH2DgMg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cvn12ysqz5jx

#hplovecraft #lovecraft #crossstitch #geekartist #geekdesigner #adorableantiquities #cuthulu #callofcthulhu #deadauthors #bookstagram #book #literature #horror #hoopart #handmade

[generallygothic]

Died this day (October 7th), 1849: the master himself, Mr. Edgar Allan Poe (b. 1808). He was Generally Gothic's first, and remains an enduring object of literary affection. If you've not read any of his work, just ask for a recommendation - expect no judgement, but much excitement. If your ghost is reading this, thank you, Mr Poe! 👻🕯📓 #generallygothic #gothic #edgarallanpoe #poe #diedthisday #gothicliterature #literature #americanliterature #americangothic #deadauthors #academic #litlover #litnerd #bookworm #booklover #booknerd #book #candle #candlelight

#candle #candlelight #bookworm #deadauthors #booklover #litnerd #poe #gothicliterature #edgarallanpoe #diedthisday #generallygothic #gothic #literature #americangothic #academic #booknerd #book #americanliterature #litlover

[getfreeebooks]

35 Authors That Died Too Early - Know How They Passed On and How Old Were They

Our Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/getfreeebooks

#authors #deadauthors #famousauthors #writing #writers #books #ebooks

[rp-kat]

Mystic Productions

1997

Hades - The Dawn Of The Dying Sun

Dawn Of Dreams - Amber

Chiva - Oracle Morte

Summoning - Dol Guldur

Eterne - Deadauthor

Arcana - Dark Age Of Reason

Satyricon - The Forest Is My Throne

Thrash'em All  #4

#Mystic Productions #hades #dawn #dying #sun #black metal #viking metal #Full Moon Productions #Dawn Of Dreams #dreams #amber #doom metal #gothic metal #death metal #Candlelight Records #Chiva #oracle #morte #atmospheric doom metal #dark metal #Summoning #dol guldur #Witchhunt Records #Atmospheric Black Metal #Epic Black Metal #Napalm Records #Eterne #deathauthor #Dark Ambient #Arcana

[anthrfrmt]

DEADAUTHOR Font https://ift.tt/3bIrq77

#TitanUI

[true-antagonist]

Seized a break in the June gloom (at least here in Chicago) to showcase some #pride reads. : Happy Pride 🌈 😊 : #pridereads #happypride #🥀 #MFAlife  #darkacademia #richardpapen #classiclit #classicliterature #literary #literarycommunity #bookstagram #gradschoolgrind #lightacademia #readersofinstagram #writersofinstagram #blackwritersofinstagram #weirdblackgirl #protectweirdblackgirlsatallcosts #deadauthors #romanticacademia #biblophile #midwesterngothic #gothicacademia #asecondofwhimsy #newbookstagrammer #deadpoetssociety #🏳️‍🌈 #🏳️‍⚧️ https://www.instagram.com/p/CQobvz1B7Hc/?utm_medium=tumblr

#pride #pridereads #happypride #🥀 #mfalife #darkacademia #richardpapen #classiclit #classicliterature #literary #literarycommunity #bookstagram #gradschoolgrind #lightacademia #readersofinstagram #writersofinstagram #blackwritersofinstagram #weirdblackgirl #protectweirdblackgirlsatallcosts #deadauthors #romanticacademia #biblophile #midwesterngothic #gothicacademia #asecondofwhimsy #newbookstagrammer #deadpoetssociety #🏳️‍🌈 #🏳️‍

[titanuidotcom]

DEADAUTHOR Font

[chipslater]

The Wood of the Dead ♦ By Algernon Blackwood ♦ Supernatural Horror Short..

The Wood of the Dead ♦ By Algernon Blackwood ♦ Supernatural Horror Short ♦ Full AudiobookTitle:  The Wood of the DeadAuthor:  Algernon BlackwoodGenre(s): Horror & Supernatural FictionLanguage: EnglishRead By:  annehavilandLibrivox RecordingSummary "The Wood of the Dead" is a short story by British author, Algernon Blackwood, included in the collection "The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories". In the story, a visitor to the West Country comes upon the ghost of an old man, whose appearance is an omen of death, which spells doom for the residents of a small mountain village.Visit me on Tumblr at https://www.tumblr.com/blog/chipslaterFollow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChipSlatersStorytimeTheater/Visit me on Blogger at https://chipslater.blogspot.com/#TheWoodoftheDead  #Horror  #Audiobook  #AlgernonBlackwood   #StrangerThings  #Supernatural  #Gothic  #shortStory  #Mystery  #thriller  #Whodunit  #Chiller  #GhostStory  #HorrorAudiobook #Occult.

#algernon blackwood #Audiobook #The wood of the dead #Supernatural #Horror #gothic #short story