#sparrow's bookshop

[drconstellation]

Brazil and The Dream of Escape

I was delighted to find in the Xtras that the machine created to be used by Furfur to use to find out how many demons Shax could requisition for storming the bookshop was inspired by the movie Brazil. This is another nod to Monty Python member Terry Gilliam, who directed this film, and who almost directed the failed GO film in the 1990's.

I love this film. Always have. Yes, I was around when it came out in 1985. I'm that old. It's always been in my top 5 favourite films. And its totally relevant to Good Omens.

Brazil can be described as a dark dystopian story based on the novel 1984. It doesn't have a happy ending, but its funny, horrific, ludicrous, romantic and timelessly beautiful all at the same time. Its so iconic that when ever I see its influence in other productions its been unmistakable.

It stars Jonathan Pryce long before he was a James Bond villain or the head Sparrow in Game of Thrones, a comedic turn from Robert de Niro and a handful of other famous faces that you are bound to recognise, such Bob Hoskins, Ian Holm and Jim Broadbent.

Pryce, as Sam Lowry, lives in a world that is strictly controlled with paperwork that comes in multiple copies, where people are routinely arrested and tortured and a long running unexplained terrorist campaign sees bombs explode in the most random of places. Sam has dreams of a beautiful woman floating in the sky, and he is a sliver-armoured winged hero trying to rescue her. He eventually finds that she is real, and finds out her name through various means via his work and contacts. He tracks her down, but that is where it all starts to unravel as she is mixed up with an unfortunate case of mistaken identity.

Its easy to see the common themes and elements that run through the film with GO: the desire to run away and escape (that doesn't work,) a totalitarian authority controlling the masses, propaganda, piles of paperwork, an undercurrent of rebellion, torture and abuse, forbidden love between classes, a villain hidden in plain sight.

There is an art deco aesthetic to the film that also carries over to other films and shows it has influenced, and the busy work floor scene that stops on a dime to watch the tv show de jour while the boss isn't looking is one of the highlights of the film.

It was a reference of this that caught my eye in the Cohen Brothers modern fairy tale The Hudsucker Proxy, where they copied the busyness of the work floor for their mail room scenes, but also the art deco aesthetic. That's another film that is always in my top five films, and could go a round of comparisons with GO - its got time stoppage, an angel appearance and a near-godlike manipulator.

It also appears, surprisingly, in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The casino at Canto Bight is Brazil inspired, in the way its introduced to us, its decor and the music. I know some people hate this film because of what they did to Luke, but I love it, the whole thing is just utterly gorgeous to look at.

And if you've watched any of Loki recently, since S2 of that show finished not long ago, you would also seen some influence from Brazil in the retro look.

I love the classic art deco style. my grandparents had an art deco house that I spent many of my childhood hours in. The style itself is a clean, unadorned look, and often is meant to give a look of movement, speed or strength. A classic example of this is the Bentley, of course, which comes from the height of the art deco era in the 1930's.

Hell is the other place we see the Brazil influence in GO, where is looks like it's constantly several decades behind the times, with overhead projectors and manual typewriters and odd looking not-quite steampunk contraptions.

Brazil is available to stream on Disney at the moment, if you'd like to take a look. I highly recommend it, its one of those influential films that once you know it, you see its long reach in the most unexpected places.

#good omens 2 #good omens meta #good omens analysis #shax #furfur #terry gilliam brazil #monty python #the bentley #art deco

[maskedemerald]

WIP List (Tag Game!)

I was tagged ages ago by @the-down-upside-finch thank you so much! Sadly I was in deadline and life drama time so catching up on the tagged stuff now.

RULES: post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

Warning: This is going to get long, like seriously I have too many even if I discount the Fan Fic ideas... which I am doing because some of them might get used for future challenges that need them not to be talked about.

Feel free to send me an ask about any of these!

Book Writing Stuff

A Curiosity Piqued Series

Medallion Heist

Message in a Bottle

Wards

Rivals

The Vanished Researcher

The Shadow Master

The Transfigured Corpse

Framed

The Traveler

The Queen of Stone

Lapis Feather (Previously Frost Amber)

Vigdis' Revenge

The Shadow Master Returns

The Bleeding Tree

Sentience

NecRomance

Doppelganger

A Brother's Return

Null Beast

Ruins of Crystal Spires

Loops

Ari vs Arnvaldr

A Focus of Time

Haunting Memories

Lost Brother

The Queen of Stone's Revenge

Uneasy Aliance

And that's just the A Curiosity Piqued WIPs!

Magic Act

Vampire Saga

Queen's Conmen

Apprenticeships in Sorcery

A Kind of Freedom

Biological Component

Blood Book

Caged Phoenix

Captain's Shoes

Curse of the Sands

Dragon Egg

Dreaming Weapon

Sands in the Hourglass

Frozen Dragon

Hatchling

In the Ashes of the Bookshop

Kayla Rising

Last Breath

Last Man on Earth

Odd

Prince Pendant

Prince's Secret

Rebirth

Should Have Been Born a Fish

Stolen Breath

Taking up the Chase

White Raven

Wish You were Here

Glaesier

Astral Projection thing

Book Boy

Wynn equivalent

Lethal Lyra

Anastriana

Garnet

Spark the Fires

Space Druid

Talisman Warlock

Forget me not

Game Writing Stuff

Light of the Oubliette

Willow

New Khronos

Fenrir

Aether Shards

Comics Writing Stuff

Better Luck

Searching Prince

Dragon Cursed

Bottle Pirates

Phantom Circus

Not Under the Mountain

Now for the Tags:

It would be crazy for me to try and tag 1 person for everything listed here, seriously that would be 67 just counting the book writing things! So I'm just going to tag all my current writers tag list and throw it open to anyone else. (Shout at me if you want to be added to the writers list for tag games, whatever you write be it original stuff or fan fiction!)

No pressure tagging @scribe-of-stories, @allie-and-the-words, @card-queen, @sm-writes-chaos, @the-real-lyra-vale, @squarebracket-trick, @jasperygrace, @pb-dot, @wmlittlemore-is-writing, @akiwitch, @aalinaaaaaa, @cat-esper, @chayscribbles, @thetwentiethdisaster, @i-rove-rock-n-roll, @ashwithapen, @vaultofqueenorion, @sparrow-orion-writes, @thetruearchmagos, @taveren-writing, @alnaperera, @amaiguri, @guessillcallitart, @stesierra, @sam-glade, @thebearthatreads, @dogmomwrites, @callahanscorner

I apologize if some of you were already tagged for this game while I was gone with IRL chaos throw a link at me and I'll take a look if you did!

#writing #writeblr community #creative writing #writeblr #wip list #writer

[jazzythursday]

Hiiii, Jazzy! For the ask game: 🍓 🥑 🔪 🌿 🪲 (hehe sorry djsakgjkdg <3)

Hi Sparrow!!

🍓 ⇢ how did you get into writing fanfiction? 

I’m a long time fanfic reader, but I didn’t start really writing anything until 2021. I think, probably, because of the pandemic and needing some kind of outlet for creating things (and also because the Miraculous Ladybug plotlines were haunting my dreams, rattling their chains around in my brain until I finally caved and wrote some actual communication/emotional resolution for the characters that I wasn't getting from the show)

🥑 ⇢ you accidentally killed somebody, which mutual(s) do you text for help?

You and @waterloou lol

🔪 ⇢ what's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project?

Bahaha there are SO many, because I frequently have to look things up to write all the fun little facts Wylan has in his head. But I’m not sure researching poisons and how to build bombs/fireworks is all that weird, to be honest.

I’m going to go with the time I was writing a Good Omens fic, and I used google street view to virtually walk from the Ritz to around where Aziraphale’s bookshop would be in soho, so I could know exactly what it looked like and if/when they would likely pass by St. James’s park on the way, and what named streets would be on that route. (I’m not even sure that’s that weird. Maybe I need to be weirder...)

🌿 ⇢ give some advice on writer's block and low creativity

I do generally believe in the whole “not forcing it and take breaks if you need to” thing usually, but as for advice:

Consume some type of media you really like. Movie, show, book, an old favorite fic, anything that inspires you. I also like going back to the source material for things like fic because it gives me ideas or gets me into the right mental place to write the characters, and I like reading my own fics to brush up on my own interpretations/style.

🪲 ⇢ add 50 words to your current wip and share the paragraph here

Oh...did you say 50? becuase I slipped and wrote 283...

(from Jesper's pov of the bookshop scene in ch 1 of Everyday)

At some point he loses Wylan to an art book he seems keen on and quietly drifts away with, leaving Jesper to talk to the enthusiastic bookeep on his own.

Jesper’s arms are getting progressively heavier with book recommendations, and the bookkeeper is somehow still holding at least twice as many. He doesn’t understand where they're even coming from at this rate, because more just seem to, to appear each time he looks away. 

He thinks about Kaz and his sleight of hand, and wonders at the chance that the bastard of the Barrel has been giving magic lessons to Wijnstraat booksellers in his free time. 

He actually has read some of the books the man recommends, either because they were commonly popular in his parents house or on the frontier, or from his short stint in university.

Unfortunately, mentioning that prompts the bookeep to ask, “Ah, so you’re a student, then?”

“Er—” Jesper blanches, in such a pitifully uncomposed way that he’s sure he can just feel Kaz shaking his head in judgemental spirit. The bookeep raises one solitary eyebrow, and Jesper, for some reason—probably because he’s Jesper—keeps bloody talking. “Yea-up. Yeah,” he bobs his head in a jerky nod, “Students, at the university. Good ol’ U of K. Woo...” Jesper cheers. Actually cheers. 

Great fucking work Fahey, very believable.

The bookkeep raises his other eyebrow, but smiles kindly. “That must be exciting. What are you studying?”  “Business,” Jesper answers quickly, and makes a concerted effort to not let it sound like a question. 

His fingers twitch, longing to trace over the pearl handles of his revolvers, but they’re hidden deep under the folds of his coat, and—apparently—he’s a university student now. 

I'm probably (definitely) going to be late to my fist class today now, but I really don't regret it.

Thanks for the questions!! 💖

#jazzy writes #jazzy answers questions #shadow and bone #wesper #wesper snippet #wylan van eck #six of crows #jesper fahey

[judgementdaysunshine]

⚓Can I have a ship from Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean & The Walking Dead, please?

I'm pansexual, she/her pronouns. I don't mind being shipped with either gender!

𝑭𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔: I'm about 5'5, pale skin, blue/grey eyes, and brown hair. I have many many piercings, and I'm covered in tattoos. I'm curvy/plus size and am body positive.

𝑯𝒐𝒃𝒃𝒊𝒆𝒔: Reading, writing, collecting rings, journaling, tarot. I'm also collecting as many books as I can because I want to have my own library where people can take whichever book they wish.

𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚: INFJ, Chaotic Good, Gryffindor, Aquarius Sun, Capricorn Moon, Aries Rising, Pisces Venus (this last one might help with the match especially). I'm a passionate person and have strong opinions. I will always stand up for what I believe in, no matter how scared I feel. I think I'm quite witty and intelligent, although I do get overwhelmed quite easily. I'm incredibly open-minded and progressive. I love to laugh and make others laugh too. I'm sensitive, and intuitive and can pick up on other people very easily. I have strong gut-feelings and kinda … understand a person's vibe? Like I can sense someone's aura but not see their colour.

𝑨𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒄: I love cottagecore, I'm very witchy but also a little grunge and gothic at the same time.

𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒔: Learning - especially witchcraft, watching tv, day-dreaming, listening and discovering new music, I love being at home, writing and then taking a reading break. I adore baths and constantly buy items from Lush.

𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒔: (other than the usual injustices of sexism, racism, and homophobia), I strongly dislike spiders and will scream whenever I see one. I don't like close-minded people, or those who make fun of others. I hate passive-aggressiveness, large crowds and loud sudden noises.

𝑳𝒊𝒍 𝒇𝒖𝒏 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒆:

・Have shaved my head. Asked my stepdad for his clippers and went into the bathroom and …hacked at my hair. It was very liberating, I think every woman should do it at least once in her lifetime

・I adore animals - I have a cat and dog! I want more but my cat is too much of a princess and won't allow any other animal in the house

・Bought a tattoo gun from the internet and I tattoo myself. I do the majority of my own piercings as well. I like to learn how to do things like that. I've kinda learned how to do hair and do mine, my mum's and my nunna's.

Sorry if this was too much, it's hard to describe oneself in a post. Thank you very much, I hope you have a wonderful day x

Omg absolutely (and also it is liberating hacking your hair off!) 🩷 (Minor swearing)

First I ship you with Cedric Diggory! 💛

He likes all your tattoos taking time and care to trace, look at, and kiss each and every single one on you even when they are close together or bunched up together

Anytime he finds a book whether he got it from his house, a bookshop, his father, a friend, or even amongst the books the library gives to students for free every 5 months of the year he always gives you a new book when he sees you and can

He makes sure if there are loud noises of any kind he always makes sure to either cover your ears or take you out of the room even putting headphones over your head one time when someone was misbehaving and knocked down a shelf in the hallway

He always watches in awe when you practice wand work and spells in front of him captivated by how natural and truly talented you are never saying anything until you take a break or done practicing

Whenever you are having muscle pains he always makes you a hot bath full of bubbles and bath bombs to help relax you staying and talking with you until the water runs cold and you feel much better

He loves seeing you with animals always smiling and feeling his heart flutter by it and it slowly made him fall in love with you even more than he already was

Next I ship you with Jack Sparrow 🖤

He doesn't mind whether your hair is long or short always feeling your hair when it's short and if you grow it out he will always take a chance to run his fingers through it

He always gets you rings whether in a chest with treasure or from a shop on land he always find a different kind of ring for you to wear on your fingers or even around your neck so you can wear a lot at once

He never admits it but he likes how passionate you are for the people you care about and who you wanna be even yelling and pushing Barbossa one time while in a fight with him which surprised jack of how you didn't take any type of shit from anyone

He likes seeing you wearing his button up or hat when everyone is just sailing the seas not fighting or running away from another crew or the royal navy enjoying how you just make him feel like a normal but good man as well

He likes how you always keep him going even when he feels low wondering if he was a true pirate, whether he should be dead, and that he deserved the people around him but you always remind him that you needed him and couldn't love anyone else as much as him

He likes to give you rum even if you don't drink it always laughing at the faces you make realizing that instead of water or anything else you drink whenever you're on your and weren't slowly drink the things you take from land he would give you a small cup of rum but quickly apologizes giving you a cup with water, coconut milk, or goat milk you got from land or one of the many islands you visit

And finally I ship you with Rosita Espinosa! 🧡

She finds and brings you gifts from runs for supplies getting many things from books, jewlery, clean clothes that were your size, and makeup to nail polish, tampons, face masks, and soaps to use in bubble baths

She likes joining you in bubble baths gently washing and caressing your skin relaxing in the water and bubbles with your head leaned on your chest

She likes to read what you write even if it's a note for a supply run she is smiling sweetly looking at the small note or reading a quote you remembered or heard of writing it down to remember it

She likes to dance with you but she loves slow dancing with you just enjoying the feeling of love and the contact with each other with your foreheads connected the whole time

She likes watching and hearing you read especially a long chapter book you slowly read turning a rosy pink when you look up to see her in the door way or sitting above you smiling sweetly

She likes watching you tattoo yourself even doing three little ones on her the first being an infinity symbol behind her ear, followed by a daisy on her wrist, and the last one being a quote in spanish "Per sempre luce mia" meaning "forever my light" on her chest just above her heart

#700 followers celebration #cedric diggory x reader #pirates of the caribbean #follower celebration #the walking dead #jack sparrow x reader #micheleamidalajedi's 700 followers celebration #harry potter #rosita espinosa x reader #jack sparrow #pirates of the carribbean x reader #harry potter x reader #rosita espinosa #the walking dead x reader #cedric diggory

[lavender-moleskine]

moments from the past few days!!

currently i’m finalizing a presentation i’m giving on tuesday and i’m in ontario visiting family- hoping to visit some little bookshops here and make the most of my break from classes:) late spring / early summer is my time to shine & be productive out in the sun and i love this time of year but i do get restless and i’m very much anticipating the end of the semester

my finals don’t start until june 12 so i’m slooooowly counting down the days until it’s over! i have a birthday coming up which is at least something sooner to look forward to <3

to my friends still in school, hang in there!! over soon:)

today’s goals:

finish up my powerpoint and rehearse the presentation a few times

do some endocrine system review

work on a lab report

🎧 eloise by penny & sparrow

📖 just finished up sea of tranquility, currently making my way through the great mortality (nonfic about the black death)

#studying #studyblr #psych studyblr #science studyblr #biology #books #reading #currently reading

[whereistheonepiece]

2023 Books

Originally I wasn't going to share the books I read this year on here, but then I changed my mind lol. It's convenient for me.

Read

The Red Scholar's Wake by Aliette de Bodard

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russel

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

Family of Origin by CJ Hauser

Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand by Komori Yoko

Luster by Raven Leilani

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith

Sunshine by Robin McKinley

Fluids by May Leitz

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

Convenience Store Woman by Murata Sayaka

The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

Memorial by Bryan Washington

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Strike the Zither by Joan He

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

The Death of King Arthur: The Immortal Legend by Peter Ackroyd

The Bookshop and the Barbarian by Morgan Stang

The Third Hotel by Laura Van Den Berg

Dune by Frank Herbert

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

Hell's Paradise by Kaku Yuji

Dungeon Meshi by Kui Ryoko

Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan

Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire

Healing Your Inner Child: Re-parenting Yourself For a More Secure and Loving Life by Natasha Levinger

Witchcraft Therapy by Mandi Em

Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice In Her Head by Warsan Shire

Celtic Mysticism by Tracie Long

A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers

Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Men in the Off Hours by Anne Carson

Ongoing

One Piece

Toilet-bound Hanako-kun by AidaIro

Dai Dark by Hayashida Q

Gokurakugai by Sano Uto

Witch Hat Atelier by Shirahama Kamome

#personal #2023 books

[the-martyrfication-of-the-matron]

I have not been keeping track of anything OC related 😔

If it is not too much trouble, may you compile a list of posts you made about your OCs?

I don’t really have screenshots or links or anything but I have the important info. Because trying to find any posts of mine that aren’t properly tagged whilst I have around 3.3k posts and have posted about 170 posts this month alone is a near impossible task for a lazy person.

For Aphverse (and my general oc universe):

We have Cer. The wolf god. Aaron’s god pal (both I believe are tags that work on my page looking for posts about him). He’s a god with no eyeballs that had his eyeballs eaten by god parasites and then had his mother give him ink eyes in his skin (tattoos) so he could see without needing actual eyeballs. He has a white streak of hair bc I can. He’s a slut, and the gods have long since given up on stopping him.

TUA:

An oc I haven’t named. But I will name him. He’s just a dude that works in a bookshop because his family lives above it, and ends up dating one of the sparrows. I know I have loads of posts about him lmao I just can’t find them. I remember he makes beaded and threaded bracelets sometimes tho and gives them to his S/O (that can’t really wear them but appreciates them anyways), and he’s got a moth tattoo on his sternum + other tattoos.

My own oc universe:

There’s Betsy, her hair is made of gold, she is a nurse for baby gods. She is very large and can unhinge her jaw a scary amount. She has and continues to show willingness to swallow buses whole

And two ocs that I’m p sure remain unnamed. One of them can go invisible and is really pretty, the other is mega into him and is basically just bimbo Medusa. She’s wonderful, I love her. I need to revive her.

there’s Empty. She’s just kind of… there. A being that predates even the gods, she’s just there to vibe and swing her huge sword around. She’s like… if an owl was a person and idk how to describe her better than that.

There’s Cordelia. Princess, had a brother that was obsessed with rats, had a witch gf. There’s also a vibe compilation about that oc group out there somewhere in the universe.

#ebvavin ocs

[jotun-philosopher]

Hi there! :) What are some Good Omens moments that still make you laugh no matter how many times you've seen them?

@vidavalor Hoo boy...

In a happy, joie-de-vivre sort of way, pretty much any time Azzy's being an adorably enthusiastic goofball about some fun human thing (like stage magic -- I've been reading 'Expert At The Card Table' recently, and yup, I can see our angel's point!) <3<3<3 His cheery sass, as well, especially in Job's courtyard with the sparrow-goats proving him right

Speaking of that minisode, the bathos from the beginning with A. switching his grandiosity on and off and C. being all hammy and blase *heart eyes*

Bildad the Shuhite in general -- no scenery left unchewed!

Also creative Crowley snark ("What else am I gonna be, an aardvark?") :D And the laudanum, hehehehe :D

The 'wait and see' reference in s2e5 (how the wossname does Aziraphale manage to look so dang CUTE on that line???)

The demotivational posters in Hell

There's something about Azzy calling the bookshop by politely describing the phone's physical location to the device he'd just borrowed...

"The clarinet can make beautiful music."

The 'I was wrong' dance

Newt booting up the disk defrag thing and immediately causing a catastrophic crash

A. telling C. about his antics with rubber duck requests etc

The TV reporter nonchalantly mentioning that the M25's "on fire or something" (my dad, who went to uni in London, thinks Pterry and Neil actually heavily downplayed the evil nature of the M25)

Crowley's interaction with R.P. Tyler

"Oh, that'll be the Jeffery Archer books, I'm afraid."

The camera colliding with the window in young Newt's intro scene

The Drunk In The Bookshop scene (s1e1)

...really, I could just put the entire script up to the start of The Final Fifteen in here! Although I frequently find it difficult to tell the difference between 'I find this amusing' and 'My faves are adorable and lovely and this gives me Autistic Joy(tm)' (the lighter side of alexithymia!)

Ehehehehe

#good omens #autistic joy

[travelerpavilion]

13 things to do in Manchester

Manchester is my favourite city in the UK. It’s smaller and friendlier than London or Birmingham and has more of an indie, creative vibe. There are also so many things to do in Manchester thanks to the city’s rich industrial heritage, vibrant cultural scene, and world-famous football clubs.

Here are my favourite things to do in Manchester:

1. Explore Manchester’s Northern Quarter

This creative hub is filled with independent boutiques, vintage shops, record stores, and street art. Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and grab a coffee in one of the trendy cafes. Make sure you check out the street art that adorns many of the buildings. Keep an eye out for the famous works of local and international artists like Akse, Qubek, and Nomad Clan. While you’re in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, you can’t miss a shopping trip to Afflecks, an iconic indie emporium. Spread over multiple floors, Afflecks is filled with independent retailers selling everything from vintage clothing and alternative fashion to artwork, records, and quirky gifts. The Northern Quarter is brimming with unique and independent shops. Discover vintage boutiques, record stores, art galleries, design shops, and bookshops. Some popular spots include Pop Boutique, Vinyl Exchange, Oklahoma, and Magma. The Northern Quarter is also home to lots of indie cafes, bars, and restaurants. Grab a coffee at one of the many independent coffee shops like Takk or Fig + Sparrow. Indulge in delicious street food at Mackie Mayor food hall or try innovative cocktails at bars like Science & Industry or Cottonopolis. Read More : BANFF ITINERARY: 4 DAYS IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES If you’re visiting on the second Sunday of the month, the Northern Quarter Market is a great place to browse local crafts, vintage clothing, artisan food, and more. Enjoy live music and soak up the lively atmosphere. If you’re around for evening drinks then you won’t be disappointed in the Northern Quarter. Enjoy live music at venues like Band on the Wall or Night & Day Café. Explore the hidden speakeasies and cocktail bars like The Fitzgerald or The Whiskey Jar. Dance the night away at clubs like YES or Soup Kitchen. For cinema, comedy and theatre lovers, catch a film at the independent cinema, HOME, which showcases a mix of arthouse, classic, and mainstream movies. Enjoy live performances at the iconic Band on the Wall or the intimate, alternative theatre, The Eagle Inn. Check out venues like The Comedy Store or Frog and Bucket for a night of laughter and entertainment. Take a break from the bustling streets and unwind in Stevenson Square or the tranquil Cutting Room Square. These public spaces offer seating areas, greenery, and a place to relax and people-watch.

2. Catch a football match

Manchester and football go hand in hand so if you’re a football fan, watch a game at Old Trafford Stadium (home of Manchester United) or the Etihad Stadium (home of Manchester City). Even if you’re not a massive football fan, it’s worth going to witness the electric atmosphere. Tickets can sometimes be hard to come by so check out GO Sport Travel for some options. 

3. Visit the Manchester Museum

Explore a diverse range of exhibits, including ancient Egyptian artefacts, natural history specimens, and interactive displays.

4. Explore the Science and Industry Museum

Learn about Manchester’s industrial revolution and scientific achievements through hands-on exhibits, vintage machinery, and interactive workshops.

5. Take a stroll in Heaton Park

This expansive park offers beautiful landscapes, woodlands, a boating lake, and various sports facilities. You can also visit the historic mansion, Heaton Hall which was built in the late 18th century for the Egerton family, who were prominent landowners in the area. Designed by architect James Wyatt, the mansion is a stunning example of neoclassical architecture. You can take guided tours of Heaton Hall to learn about its history, architecture, and the Egerton family.  Look out for seasonal events and park activities while you’re there!

6. Discover the Manchester Art Gallery

Admire an extensive collection of artworks spanning centuries, including Pre-Raphaelite paintings, contemporary art, and decorative arts.

7. Visit the John Rylands Library

Marvel at the stunning Victorian Gothic architecture and explore the impressive collection of rare books and manuscripts. It feels like stepping into a Harry Potter film in here!

8. Explore Chinatown

Experience the vibrant atmosphere of Manchester’s Chinatown with its traditional Chinese arch, authentic restaurants, and Chinese supermarkets. The main entrance to Manchester’s Chinatown is marked by a beautiful traditional Chinese arch, known as the Chinese Imperial Arch. It’s a great spot to take photos and serves as a symbolic gateway into the neighbourhood. Chinatown is filled with a wide variety of Chinese restaurants and eateries. You can indulge in traditional dishes such as dim sum, Peking duck, Sichuan cuisine, and more.  It’s also fun to visit Chinatown’s supermarkets and shops. You can find a range of imported goods, Asian ingredients, spices, teas, snacks, and other products. It’s a great place to shop for Asian groceries and explore the unique offerings. If you’re in Manchester for the Lunar New Year then Chinatown is the place to be. Chinatown hosts vibrant celebrations during Chinese New Year. The streets come alive with dragon and lion dances, traditional music and performances, fireworks, and street food stalls. It’s a fantastic time to experience the festive atmosphere and cultural traditions.

9. Enjoy live music

Manchester has a thriving music scene, known for its rich musical heritage. Catch a concert at iconic venues like the O2 Apollo, Manchester Arena, or Band on the Wall.

10. Go shopping

If you love shopping then Manchester will be a dream for you. Explore the high-end stores at the Trafford Centre or wander through the Arndale Centre, one of the largest shopping centres in the UK. If you prefer vintage stores and boutiques then stick to the shops I mentioned above in the Northern Quarter.

11. Explore the Manchester Cathedral

Admire the stunning architecture of this mediaeval cathedral and attend one of the regular choral performances or concerts.

12. Visit the Whitworth Art Gallery

Enjoy contemporary art exhibitions, sculpture displays, and beautiful gardens surrounding this gallery located in Whitworth Park.

13. Manchester’s nightlife

Last, but not least, is a mini guide to Manchester’s nightlife because you can’t visit Manchester without a big night out! Deansgate Locks is always a good place to start. Located near Deansgate train station, Deansgate Locks is a popular nightlife area with a variety of bars and clubs housed in converted railway arches. It offers a bustling atmosphere and is a favourite spot for locals and visitors alike. Manchester’s Gay Village, centred around Canal Street, is renowned for its vibrant LGBTQ+ nightlife. There are loads of bars and clubs with a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. The Northern Quarter is not only a hub for independent shops and cafes but also boasts a thriving nightlife scene. It is known for its eclectic mix of bars, live music venues, and speakeasy-style cocktail bars. If live music is your thing then head to iconic venues like the O2 Apollo and Manchester Arena as well as smaller intimate spaces like Band on the Wall and Soup Kitchen. You can catch performances by local and international artists across various genres. If you want to dance until daylight then opular clubs include Warehouse Project, Gorilla, Hidden, and the famous Hacienda nightclub (reopened as a new venue). These clubs host regular DJ sets, themed nights, and special events. The Comedy Store, Frog and Bucket, and The Comedy Store Manchester are well-known venues that offer regular shows. These are just a few of the many things you can do in Manchester. The city offers something for everyone, whether you’re interested in history, culture, sports, or entertainment. Read the full article

[acocpodcast]

I saw the sign, and it opened up my eyes, join us with Rich (he/him)! In this episode, we create a couple of Pendragons for Inspirisles from Hatchlings Games, the first RPG that teaches you sign language. Back their Dragon Dowser Kickstarter through June 22, 2023 at 9:54 AM EDT!

Listen or read the transcript!

For more information, please check out our website.

Email: acoupleofcharacterspod at gmail dot com.

Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Patreon: ACoCPodcast.

Bookshop dot org storefront and gift cards.

Use code CHOOSEINDIE on Libro.fm to receive a free audiobook when you purchase a subscription.

Episode notes: Sparrow character sheet. Zephyr character sheet. Sparrow character sheet, screen reader accessible. Zephyr character sheet, screen reader accessible.

Dyslexia friendly versions: Transcript. Sparrow character sheet. Zephyr character sheet.

Mentioned books: Legendborn (Legendborn Cycle 1) by Tracy Deonn, on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm. Bloodmarked (Legendborn Cycle 2) by Tracy Deonn, on Bookshop.org and Libro.fm. Pre-order the paperback!

Hatchlings Games: Website. Itch. Twitter. Purchase your own copy of Inspirisles! Support Dragon Dowser on Kickstarter, through June 22, 2023 at 9:54 AM EDT! Follow Cryptid Creeks on Kickstarter to get notified when it launches in September!

Learn about Everyone Games, a group dedicated to promoting accessibility for gamers.

Dungeons & Dragon Types: Website. Twitter.

Cover art: Copyright Chandra Reyer 2019.

#RPG #TTRPG #podcast #Character Creation #episode #gaming #guest #interview #Disability awareness

[lightsinadarkworld]

The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer--Blog Tour

The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer–Blog Tour

About the Book Book: The Bookshop of Secrects Author: Mollie Rushmeyer Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction (Christian) Release date: October 25, 2022 A collection of lost books holds the clues to her family’s legacy…and her future. Hope Sparrow has mastered the art of outrunning her tragic past, learning never to stay anywhere too long and never to allow anyone control over her life again.…

View On WordPress

[littlemosbookrecs]

Title: The Bookshop of Secrets

Author: Mollie Rushmeyer

This was a clever story about family secrets and letting go of the past.

Hope Sparrow is searching for a collection of lost books that once belonged to her late mother, but searching through her family’s history is risky. She is running from a traumatic past and doesn’t trust others easily, but the only way to uncover the rumored family treasure is to accept help from the townsfolk.

The bookshop in Wanishin Falls is where her search begins, but it appears to be in shambles, and the elderly owner, who is suffering from early stages of dementia, is unable to remember where the books are located. His grandson, Ronan, offers to help Hope in her quest, but she is reluctant to allow him to get too close. He too has suffered devastating tragedy, and over time she begins to open up to him and trust that he won’t hurt. But they are more closely tied than either one of them knows, and it seems like fate brought them together to peel back the layers of their past and allow them to heal.

While I enjoyed this story for the most part, I didn’t like that it had so many religious undertones. I don’t have anything against religion, but it’s not something I want to read about in a story like this. After a while, it felt a bit too preachy. When I requested this book through NetGalley, I was searching for mystery and women’s fiction, but somehow I missed that it was also categorized as Christian. The synopsis also doesn’t allude to this being a Christian story.

That being said, it’s a great story, but I would say it’s strictly for a religious crowd.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Love Inspired Trade for providing a copy of this book to review.*

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5-4 stars)

https://amzn.to/3DhUilT

#booklover #booknerd #bookworm #books #ebooks #paperbacks #reader #reviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #somanybookssolittletime

[thediaryofareader]

Book Review: Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer

Check out this book review of The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer. It is a story a girlher family's legacy...and her future are hidden in a collection of lost books.

Hey Book Besties! Today I am bringing you a book review of The Bookshops of Secrets. This book was so enjoyable continue reading to find out what I thought! You may want to pick it up yourself when it releases. Synopsis Her family’s legacy…and her future are hidden in a collection of lost books. Hope Sparrow has a troubling past, causing her to stay anywhere too long and never begrudging…

View On WordPress

#book recommendations #book review

[macrolit]

There’s a special place in heaven for booksellers who turn your order into a gift

#milan kundera #life is elsewhere #independent bookseller #bookseller #online #bookshop #independent bookstore #sparrow's bookshop #bookmark #favorites

[ladyxskywalker]

Pedro Pascal Fic Recs 💫

princessxkenobi's 1k September Celebration 🌼🍂📖

thank you to the amazing fic writers for sharing some wonderful stories with all of us ! & to the kind readers for their constant support. 💛

please be sure to check all warnings & tags before reading

nsfw & adult content will be marked with a double asterisk **

fics marked as (series) are stories with two or more parts

pairings will be listed as (gn, f, afab, m, oc, ofc, onc, ace, masc, masc gn)

everything is organized alphabetically by fandom & character to the best of my ability

(If you would like to be removed, please send me a message to let me know 🙏)

enjoy ! xo ☕

✨ Dave York

Affliction (series) (fatal attraction au) by @clydesducktape (f!reader, ofc) **

When Legends Rise (series) by @writeforfandoms (f!reader) **

✨ Ezra

A Girl Walks Into A Bookshop (series) by @oonajaeadira (f!reader) **

Crassula Ovata (series) by @ezramando (gn!reader)

Cup Those Hands (series) by @justrunamok (ofc, bi!gn!reader) **

Rushing Decadence (voice actor!ezra) by @highsviolets (gn!reader)**

Shadows & Starlight (series) (fae king ezra) by @ezrasbirdie (ofc)

Specks of Color by @pumpkin-stars (gn!reader)

Jagged Scraps of Him by @ezrasbirdie

Mysticus (series) (soulmate au) by @juletheghoul (f!reader) **

The Family Vane (series) (borrowers au) by @miraclesabound  (ezra, cee, din, grogu)

The Lucky One (series) (about time au) by @/dayoffinkyoto on ao3

The Sun Sets With You (series) by @sharkbait77 (f!reader)

Winter Moon (series) by @rae-gar-targaryen (f!reader) **

✨ Frankie Morales

Clean by @highsviolets (afab!reader) **

Down Payment (series) (we were warriors) collab with @hotspacepilots by @jedi-mando (ofc) **

Finding Family by @absurdthirst  (f!reader) **

Fix'er Upper (series) by @givemethatgold (f!reader) **

Fly Me To The Moon by @pilothusband (f!reader)  

In Your Arms by @writefightandflightclub (masc!gn!reader)

I'd Give You My World by @clydesducktape (a/b/o dynamics) **

Oblivius (series) (my best friend's wedding au) by @juletheghoul (f!reader, ofc) **

Project Eleven (series) (post apocalyptic au) by @steeeeeeeviebb (f!reader) **

Weeknights (series) by @frannyzooey (f!reader) **

✨ Jack 'Agent Whiskey' Daniels

Crimson Rose (series) by @brandyllyn (soulmate au) (f!reader)

Experimental Love (sex pollen au) by @absurdthirst (f!reader) **

She Moves Through The Fair by @writeforfandoms (f!reader)

The Traveler (series) (western au) by @silksaddle (f!reader) **

✨ Javier Peña

Amas Veritas (series) (practical magic au) by @steeeeeeeviebb (f!reader)

Forbidden Fruit by @mellowswriting (f!reader)**

Forgotten (series) by @aerynwrites (f!reader)

Suspension of Disbelief by @justrunamok (black!omc)

Waterfall Inquiry (series) by @highsviolets (f!reader) **

Whatever It Takes by @absurdthirst (f!reader) **

✨ Marcus Moreno

Poorly Wired Circuit (series) by @radiowallet (ofc)**

✨ Marcus Pike

Share Your Address by @marvelousmermaid (gn!reader) (collab with @louderrthanthunderr & @healingstardust) 

Stardust by @mellowswriting  

The Raunchy Raid by @absurdthirst (f!reader) ** 

Unfortunate Mistakes, Fortunate Outcomes by @absurdthirst  (f!reader) **

✨ Oberyn Martell

In Name Only (series) by @forever-rogue (f!reader)**

The Arrangement (series) by @absurdthirst (f!reader)

Hotel Dorne (modern au) by @absurdthirst (f!reader)**

Life Has It's Mysteries by @maharani-radha-writes (gn!reader)

Little Sparrow (series) by @autumnleaves1991-blog (f!reader) ** (ellaria, oberyn)

Lost in Your Depths (series) by @aerynwrites (f!reader)

Solis by @juletheghoul (f!reader) **

Sugar & Strawberries (series) (professor oberyn) collab by @ezrasbirdie & @starlightmornings (ofc) **

Washed Out (series) (deep sea oberyn) by @juletheghoul (f!reader)

✨ Pero Tovar

The Blizzard by @absurdthirst (f!reader) **

Born to Be Wild (series) (modern au) by @writeforfandoms (f!reader) **

Lavender & Mint (series) by @lilkermit14 (f!reader)** (submitted by @clydesducktape)

Pan Dulce (series) by @clydesducktape

Emparejar (series) by @clydesducktape (a/b/o dynamics) (f!reader)

✨ The Thief (Casillero del Diablo)

The Locksmith (series) by @oonajaeadira (f!reader) **

Deal with the Devil (series) by @writeforfandoms (f!reader) **

The Greatest Thief in the World by @kesskirata (f!reader) **

✨ Zach Wellison

A Room With A View (series) by @absurdthirst (f!reader) **

On the Wind (series) by @sharkbait77 (ofc)

#pedro pascal character fanfiction #pxk reaches 1000 💛🌼 #pxk fic recs 💫

[aftgficrec]

Do you have fics that are kinda aesthetic and soft? Like gardens, coffee shop, etc

Thanks💗

Hi! I hope you’ll enjoy this little selection of gentle delights. - S

Also see...

Fics with aesthetic here

Long soft fics here

New(ish) flower shop/bookstore aus here

June ‘21 staff recs - coffee/tea shop aus here

‘Raise Your Spirits’ here

‘Foxglove Court’ series here

‘Petal-shaped Epiphanies’ here

‘the sparrow’ here

‘cocoa dust’ here

‘Morning Fuc*offee AU’ here

‘Bittersweet & Sugar Free’ here

‘Hatford Beans & Books.’ here

‘Bleeding Hearts’ here

‘cone sold stober’ and ‘the ballad of the cat café’ here

‘don't dream it's over’ here

‘his elastic life’ here

‘Dawning on Me’ here (since updated)

‘what’s yours is mine’ here

Say You'll Stay by Willow_bird [Rated T, 5091 words, complete, 2021]

“Why didn’t you call it ‘Kitty-Cat Books’?” Nicky asked out of nowhere.

Andrew raised a brow and looked down at his son. “What?”

Nicky let out a huge gusty sigh. “The book store, Daddy. Why didn’t you call it ‘Kitty-Cat Books’? You like kitties bestest. You don’t even have a fox stuffie or anything. So why make the store about foxes? It makes no sense!”

Ah. Andrew shrugged and looked back out at the torrent raging outside. “I had a friend, a long time ago. He liked foxes.”

---

On a stormy day, Andrew expects the store to remain completely empty other than himself and his young son. The last thing he's prepared for is for a boy from his past to come in seeking shelter from the weather with his own small son in his arms.

tw: scars, tw: implied/referenced torture

Daily Special by moonix [Rated M, 7517 words, complete, 2021]

Detailing the fast and slow seduction of one Andrew Minyard by a coffee shop specialising in hot chocolate and rude baristas.

At Swim by moonix [Rated T, 4335 words, complete, 2021]

Bee prepared Andrew for her death as thoroughly as she'd done everything in her life. She left him her house and her garden, her recipes and her spices, the river where she used to go swimming every day.

The only thing she forgot to mention was Neil.

tw: minor character death

Necromancy for Children by Paradoxolotl [Rated G, 3506 words, complete, 2021]

To celebrate his transfer, Andrew takes his nieces to Build-A-Bear. Queue one Neil Josten who is determined to have a little fun at work, especially if it involves one famous exy player.

Foxhaven by justadreamfox [Rated T, 6981 words, complete, 2020]

Andrew is looking for a change - a change in the weather, a change in location, a change in something - and Kevin is pretty damned sure his best friend just might find it in the tiny Vermont town of Foxhaven.

tw: alcohol

Next to You by KatherineF [Not Rated, 10101 words, complete, 2020]

Neil Josten works as a math professor and lives a comfortable life in a neighborhood that happens to house all of his closest friends. He meets Andrew Minyard, the owner of the quaint bookstore down the street, at a barbeque and makes the mistake of agreeing to go to his book club.

Lots of Andrew being an obviously lovesick fool, Neil being oblivious, and their friends loving them unconditionally.

tw: implied/referenced torture

flour petals, sugar stitches by ephemeralsky [Rated T, 11309 words, complete, 2018, locked fic]

“Thanks for coming with me,” she says, keeping her eyes trained in front of her.

“It is not like I had a choice in the matter,” Andrew says, blowing out a stream of smoke through his mouth.

Renee’s lips curl into a smile. “Maybe you’ll win our next sparring match and I’ll finally have to buy you ten cartons of Haagen-Dazs.”

“It cannot be worse than tagging along to a bridal boutique.”

“Maybe,” Renee allows, humor in her voice. “But what kind of man of honor would you be if you didn’t come with me to choose a dress?”

(or: Andrew is a baker, Renee is a bride-to-be, and Neil is a dressmaker)

tw: implied/referenced eating disorder

coffee shop au by @thefoxholestuff [tumblr, 2021]

I present to you: Neil works at a coffee shop. Andrew is a regular.

bookshop au by @psych0midget [tumblr, 2020]

Andrew had thousands of followers.

He wasn’t sure how it had started. He was the owner of a small independent bookstore and he regularly hit the gym. Nothing more, nothing less.

Tattoo parlour/flower shop au by @knox-knocks [tumblr, 2019]

a flower shop/tattoo parlor au where the two shops are right next to each other, so close they might as well be one store

andreil: flower shop au by @audreils [tumblr, 2017]

part 1, part 2, part 3

okay so andrew and neil are neighbors right and neil has two cats that almost never stay in when he’s not home

Art

Andreil moodboard by @ladyferocity [tumblr, 2018]

Andreil flower shop/tattoo parlour by @allisoinreynolds [ tumblr, 2020]

#fic #Neil Josten/Andrew Minyard #Kevin Day & Andrew Minyard #Andrew Minyard & Renee Walker #au: flower shop #au: bookstore #au: coffee shop #au: tattoo parlour #au: neighbours #au: different first meeting #au: no exy #au: writers #au: single parent #theme: fluff #theme: fluff & angst #theme: fluff & humour #theme: mental health issues #theme: grief/mourning #theme: recovery #theme: meet cute #theme: pining #theme: enemies to lovers #theme: found families #theme: hurt/comfort #theme: asexuality #theme: disabilities #tw: minor character death #tw: implied/referenced torture #tw: eating disorders #tw: scars