“But, like a kaleidoscope which is every now and then given a turn, society arranges successively in different orders elements which one would have supposed immutable, and composes a new pattern.” —IN THE SHADOW OF YOUNG GIRLS IN FLOWER, Vol. 2 of IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME by Marcel Proust
Still slowly working through this monster beauty; this feels particularly apt for the great social media shakeup moment we are in.
#TodaysTeaser #bookstodon #proust

“Photography, he thought was also a kind of translation, and they had all come out the poorer for it.” — BABEL by R. F. Kuang

The connection between silver-magic and silver-colloidal photographic plates, the distance between the picture and the truth, all of it hits hard right now as we watch the textiest social network crumble and decay. Don’t exile me to Instagram!

#TodaysTeaser #sff #HistoricalFantasy #Photography #Translation #langtoot

“They dug through languages like they were mines, searching for valuable veins of common heritage and distorted meaning.” — BABEL by R. F. Kuang

I keep thinking about how the classroom scenes with Prof. Playfair are like those in Candide with Dr. Pangloss — whose name can mean both ‘all smooth’ and ‘every tongue.’ Oh no, am I doing silver-work?!

#TodaysTeaser #SFF #HistoricalFantasy #Bookstodon #colonialism #language

“It’s good to be useful, but try not to confuse it with being loved. People either love you or they don’t. Your family doesn’t need you, but they’ll *miss* you.” — SAILOR’S DELIGHT by Rose Lerner, an m/m historical

Rose always knows how to cut to the quick. This book is warm and calendar-centered and spiritual in a welcome way, particularly suited to the tail end of the year.
#TodaysTeaser #Bookstodon #QueerRomance #HistoricalRomance #LGBTQ #AgeOfSail

“It felt as though Elie spent his whole life pretending not to mind the hunger gnawing at him from the inside out, while other people ate their fill.” —SAILOR’S DELIGHT by Rose Lerner (a brilliant writer and a wonderful friend)

Oh, if you’re looking for capital-P-Pining, this book has it! A naval agent and a hot sailing master, two idiots not realizing they’re both in love.
#TodaysTeaser #HistoricalRomance #QueerHistoricalRomance #QueerRomance #bookstodon

“This was what he wanted: a smooth, even path to a future with no surprises.

“The only obstacle, of course, was his conscience.” — BABEL by R. F. Kuang

The human dilemma in a nutshell! And one of the most succinct bits of narrative screws-twisting I’ve ever seen. We know Robin’s going to end up choosing his conscience — but with what impetus? To what consequence?
#TodaysTeaser #sff #AmReading #AmReadingFantasy #fantasy #bookstodon

“They offered up everything about themselves because they had, at last, found the only group of people for whom their experiences were not so unique or baffling.” — BABEL by R. F. Kuang

It’s about marginalized students at a fictional magical college, but it seems to describe pretty accurately why we get so emotionally invested in social media, too.
#TodaysTeaser #AmReading #sff #Marginalization

“Translation, from time immemorial, has been the facilitator of peace. Translation makes possible communication, which in turn makes possible the kind of diplomacy, trade, and cooperation between foreign peoples that brings wealth and prosperity to all.”
—Babel by R. F. Kuang
A stellar example of dialogue that sounds pretty but sends chills down your spine.

#TodaysTeaser #AmReading #SFF #HistoricalFantasy #Colonialism #Language

“At night, the moon conspired with streetlamps to bathe the city in a faint, otherworldly glow. The cobblestones beneath their feet seemed like roads leading into and out of different centuries… They moved within a timeless space, shared by the ghosts of scholars past.”

— BABEL by R. F. Kuang

This novel balances empire’s brutality with its seductions in a truly wonderful way.
#SFF #TodaysTeaser #AmReading #FictionalOxford #Colonialism

Trying out something new: every day I’ll post a quote from whatever I’m reading, using the hashtag #TodaysTeaser — there will be romance, sff, nonfiction, essays, poetry, mysteries, and all genres!

#TodaysTeaser