How About Instead Of "Netflix And Chill," We Share Our Artwork With Each Other And Talk About Our Favorite

Doodles of the characters from Donna Tartt's The Secret History

edgy emo guy with long hair, jewelry, and dark clothes

alright maybe nobody will get what i'm talking about but writers, what's your character type? what's that one brand of character who is in EVERY SINGLE WIP YOU EVER HAVE. mine's the serious badass older-sister-figure with a blonde pixie cut

Something I recently realized that helped me understand my aro-spec identity is that my "crushes" that I can remember weren't actually fueled by romantic attraction for the person. They were actually fueled by attraction towards the idea of dating/liking them, but not actually them as a person. I wanted to find my soulmate and as soon as I found someone that I thought fit that ideal, I would start daydreaming about being with them, but I wasn't really attracted to them as a person, just my idealized version of them and the relationship. As a result, I couldn't really name any traits about those people that I liked, aside from surface level ones like, "funny," "nice," and "hardworking." And while I was aesthetically attracted to them, I never really fantasized about kissing them or being super romantic with them (aside from maybe hand-holding or hugging), and if I ever tried, it made me uncomfortable and felt like I was violating them. Did anyone else have a similar experience or is it just me?

Today I discovered that a couple of TSH characters were based on actual people Donna Tartt knew at Bennington College- amongst them were students Todd O'Neal and Matt Jacobsen, who were the inspiration for Henry and Bunny respectively.

AND JUST—

There's even their own comments about it and it's so funny wait:

Here's the source

rb to have a very gay 2022

Idk if I'm the only aro-spec person who is like this, but I need to talk about it bc it's been on my mind so much lol

So, like...in general, I have a complicated relationship with romance. In fiction (books/movies/tv/fanfic), I only really like queer romance. Two guys? All for it! Two girls? All for it! NB person with someone else? All for it! Granted, there will always be exceptions and romance stories that I prefer more than others, but by large, I tend to enjoy most queer romance stories that I consume. HOWEVER, for some strange reason, when it comes to straight romance stories, I almost always get squicked out or uncomfortable!! AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHYYYY!!! Like, it could be nearly identical to a queer romance story, but I would still be uncomfy if it was heterosexual, and I don't know why!!!!!!

When it comes to irl romance, I'm usually either indifferent or uncomfortable with it, no matter if it's queer or straight. Like, I can usually handle it, unless they're full on like making out or smth, then obviously, I'm extremely uncomfy and averse, but if it's casual, then it's just whatever.

But, honestly, I don't know what my deal is with the fictional romance!! I've even forced myself to like some straight romance in the past, but it's always SO forced.

So, yeah, that's how I feel. Can anyone else relate, or is it just me??

m a n i f e s t i n g

reblog for something lgbt to happen to you TODAY

Underrated LGBTQ+ Books That I Highly Recommend

I’ve researched queer books many times, and most of the time, I see the same selection. While I understand why these same books come up (because they are really good books), I would like to take the time to recommend some less popular LGBTQ+ books.

Anger Is A Gift, by Mark Oshiro

Where do I begin with this book? Everything about it is fantastic: the writing, the characters, the story, and the way it all comes together into one big novel sandwich! I had an amazing time reading this book, and there were a few times where I was nearly pushed to tears. This book doesn’t just deal with queer identities. It also covers racism, police brutality, and much more. If you like books that feel very real, then this is definitely a good one to look up.

Orpheus Girl by Brynne Rebele-Henry

This book is just....amazing. I wholeheartedly believe that this book has no flaws. Once again, everything about this novel just comes together so well, and it all combines into this beautifully written creation. This book also deals with some very heavy topics, such as conversion therapy, and I recommend reading the synopsis thoroughly before reading it. However, if you are able to, I highly suggest reading this novel!

The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

This book took everything that I love about scary stories and made it gay, and I love it. The way that the story flows in this particular novel is just fantastic, and when I first read it, I breezed through it in about a day. From what I can remember, I do believe that there are some triggering topics in this book, so do read the synopsis and any triggers listed. If you do get the chance to read this amazing book, I guarantee that you will love it!

Pretty much any Alice Oseman book

I wholeheartedly love all of the books that I have read by Alice Oseman, and while I haven’t read all of them, I have read a few. The two that I decided to mention on this list are Radio Silence and I Was Born For This, since I don’t see them actually being recommended anywhere. Honestly, though, any book by Alice Oseman is worth reading, as her writing is amazing. I have also read Heartstopper, and I am planning to read both Solitaire and Loveless. If you have never heard of Alice Oseman, I highly recommend checking out any of her books!

Darius The Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

This series has brought me to the brink of tears too many times. The first time I read this book, I was not expecting this many feels, but I am not complaining. Honestly, everything about this duology is just so comforting, in a weird way. The way it’s written, paired with the relatable protagonist and a gripping story was just so great, and I would sell my soul to read this book for the first time again. I can distinctly remember the feelings I felt during specific moments of this novel, and it reminds me how much I loved it. If you’ve never read the Darius The Great duology, I highly recommend doing so!

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Ah yes, I’m ending it off on the beloved Mo Dao Zu Shi. To be honest, I have only just read the first volume of this novel, since the other two volumes have not been released in English where I live. However, I do plan to purchase the other two volumes when I get the chance, because this novel was just so good! The characters, the beautiful artwork, and especially the gorgeous writing, all of it was amazing. This book is absolutely worth reading at least the first volume of, since that’s all I have to speak on at the moment. 

Thanks so much for reading! I hope this list was helpful to anyone who wanted some new LGBTQ+ book recs!

Bro, I really just need someone who will rewatch the entirety of Ninjago with me. Guy, girl, nb person, doesn't matter; just someone who will watch the whole show with me and listen to me explain plot points and ships.

donna tartt: literally writes an entire 600 page book about how it can be dangerous to do things just for the aesthetic

us, already making pinterest boards: oh to be a classics student in vermont in the 80s drinking whiskey from a teacup and occasionally murdering people