Bookish Lessons with Sudarshana

Hey guys! This week's episodes seems to be the length of the first two episodes combined. This happened for two reasons: 1. The excerpt from the book, Camp by L. C. Rosen, that I chose, is actually already 15 minutes long. I needed to keep the emotion of the fight between two characters to emphasize how gender biases can stifle us in our lives and interpersonal relationships and 2. I end up ranting about these gender biases. But I hope this episode either provides comfort for you (as in DAMN I AM NOT CRAZY FOR SEEING THINGS THIS WAY!) or, shed light on how you can be more cognizant of gender biases and the way you can accidentally box your own friends into suffocating roles and appearances.

So, it's no secret I am OBSESSED with The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. But instead of gushing on plot and prose, I read a bit of Henry's POV, one that has made me feel more seen than ever. Henry is lost. Full of self doubt instilled in him by others. I talk about the importance to celebrate the journeys over the endings - to be the good support systems for others, that we so badly crave.

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender has been one of my favorite 2020 reads so far. Though this is not a formal review, I read one of the most impactful conversations the cast of characters engaged in early on in the book (minor spoilers incoming) before discussing the feelings of necessity for labels within the LGBTQ+ community and how this 4 page conversation encouraged me to step back and examine my own sexuality. TW: Cursing