Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in BookClub.
Forever Changing
I know what you’re all thinking: ugh, another mushy “the Harry Potter series saved my life” piece. Had this been a few years ago, I probably would have written something along those lines. The Harry Potter books did not save my life, per se, but they did define me, shape me into the person that I am today—and then revisiting them through the lens of what their author has become tore me down and made me rethink everything that I had thought that I had ever stood for.
By Stephanie Hoogstad3 years ago in BookClub
Review of 'The Whispering Dark'
Delaney Meyers-Petrov is tired of being seen as fragile just because she's Deaf. So when she's accepted into a prestigious program at Godbole University that trains students to slip between parallel worlds, she's excited for the chance to prove herself. But her semester gets off to a rocky start as she faces professors who won't accommodate her disability, and a pretentious upperclassman fascinated by Delaney's unusual talents. Colton Price died when he was nine years old. Quite impossibly, he woke several weeks later at the feet of a green-eyed little girl. Now, twelve years later, Delaney Meyers-Petrov has stumbled back into his orbit, but Colton's been ordered to keep far away from the new girl... and the voices she hears calling to her from the shadows. Delaney wants to keep her distance from Colton — she seems to be the only person on campus who finds him more arrogant than charming — yet after a Godbole student turns up dead, she and Colton are forced to form a tenuous alliance, plummeting down a rabbit-hole of deeply buried university secrets. But Delaney and Colton discover the cost of opening the doors between worlds when they find themselves up against something old and nameless, an enemy they need to destroy before it tears them — and their forbidden partnership — apart.
By Cyn's Workshop3 years ago in BookClub
Anne of Green Gables
The book that changed my life the most was Anne of Green Gable by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This book gave me the courage to be me and helped shape me into the writer I am today. Anne, with an E, helped me understand that there was life after mortal embarrassment. This book is one I encouraged both my children to read.
By Mother Combs3 years ago in BookClub
Deforestation
Deforestation: Unveiling the Environmental Crisis The world's forests, spanning vast expanses of land and harboring an astonishing variety of life, have long been crucial to the health of our planet. However, the relentless process of deforestation threatens to unravel the delicate balance of ecosystems, disrupt local communities, exacerbate climate change, and cast a shadow over the future of our natural world.
By Brilan Jackson3 years ago in BookClub
I DID NOT ASK TO BE HERE.
Is it preferable not to have existed? Some people think it would be better if there was no conscious life at all. The philosophical position known as antinatalism holds that procreation constitutes moral evil. Therefore, we ought to steer clear of it. Some antinatalists believe that just humans should stop having children, while others argue that it would have been better for all sentient beings if they had never existed. But isn't it wrong to be against childbirth? Why would somebody be opposed to the development of new life? David Benatar is one of the most well-known antinatalist thinkers of our time. Instead, Not to Have Been, one of the books he wrote, contains a thorough explanation of his antinatalist beliefs. Benatar contends that creating new sentient life is always evil because doing so causes grave harm. Therefore, the most beneficial thing we may do for our future offspring is to avoid procreation because those who haven't been born aren't subject to the pain of life. His antinatalist stance is, therefore, not motivated by a dislike for sentient creatures. It is motivated by compassion because it wants to stop the inevitable misery of being born. Antinatalism is a contentious issue that conflicts with many people's worldviews. The general public likely opposes antinatalism since they view it as misanthropic. After all, isn't destroying all sentient life to alleviate suffering a bit harsh?
By Ian Sankan3 years ago in BookClub
Why You Should Read Siddhartha
"Siddhartha" is a novel by Hermann Hesse that follows the spiritual journey of a young Indian man named Siddhartha during the time of Gautama Buddha. The novel explores themes of self-discovery, enlightenment, and the pursuit of meaning. Spanning a lifetime of experiences and inner transformations, Siddhartha's story is a profound exploration of the human condition and the quest for spiritual truth.
By Emery St. Wayne3 years ago in BookClub
Awareness.
The vastness of the Earth and the multitude of knowledge and experiences it holds can make it challenging to be aware of everything. As individuals, we are limited by our own perspectives, experiences, and the information available to us. It is impossible for any single person to know everything about the world.
By Dawn Earnshaw3 years ago in BookClub
Olive’s Ocean
“She tried to imagine what it would feel like to be hit by a car… A mail truck sounded its horn as it thundered past and Martha could feel its power. The force blew her hair away from her face. She winced; even her toes tightened.” -Olive’s Ocean
By Seashell Harpspring 3 years ago in BookClub
View from the Floor
As many people here know, due to my previous articles and poems, I have a disorder known as functional neurological disorder (FND). A huge part of functional neurological disorder for myself, and many others, is a type of seizure called psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). These seizures, while not dangerous, are very disruptive to daily life. They make me feel alone, weak, and not in control of my own anxiety (and other emotions).
By Rene Peters3 years ago in BookClub
Learning a little about Love
I have a confession to make: I am not the single most confident person in the world. Despite being fairly outspoken at times, a little loud at others and in general a bit manic and over-the-top, I'm actually an introvert. During the course of the years, I've learned that being a wallflower really doesn't help me achieve my goals or make connections with other people. And those connections are important for so many different reasons, but I wont get into them right here and now.
By Lilly Cooper3 years ago in BookClub
On the Outside. Top Story - August 2023.
No, I did not live a life filled with rumbles and small-town crime and golden sunsets. Nonetheless, S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders" is one novel that always manages to draw me back, especially when I'm reminded of my "outsider" ways myself.
By Lizzy Rose3 years ago in BookClub
