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Post by Mads on Aug 13, 2016 9:31:11 GMT -5
IntroductionHi and welcome to the new Librarium! [Or the Librarium 2.0, if you will. Actually, please don't.]
Last year I created this place on the Old Forums [as we're now referring to them as] as a book club for people to come and discuss you guessed it books, and to read a book together monthly. We gained lots of members over the year, lots of whom I hope will rejoin at some point, as well as newcomers, too! However, though we never stopped discussing books, we stopped reading books together. Personally, I'd still be up to do that if anyone wanted to, though it's never going to be a mandatory thing for members, as time and money, etc, are all issues! Instead, I think of this place as a place for people who like books to come and discuss books and other things. It's about chatting with people who share a common interest, not just books, I think. ^_^ Also, we had a very large writing community on the old thread, so if you're a writer this is definitely a good place for you, too. But we love chatting above everything else, so there will be a lot of random rubbish. I have three admins, Lorekeeper Crow, Swanwhisper and Tansypath [all wonderful and friendly people] who are going to help me with the running of this place, because I'm a lazy procrastinator with a terrible memory, haha. [Also, manga counts as books, and I love manga, so I'd love to discuss that, too!] JoiningTo join, just fill this thing out: Username | Were you a member of the Librarium on the old forums? [this doesn't matter, it'd just be nice to know who was!] | Favourite author | Favourite book | Anything else you feel like mentioning | My Recommendations[ I tried to choose relatively obscure books for this section, because nobody just wants to see the same old thing over and over again. Note that a couple of these books are English and possibly not in any American bookshops.] Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn -- One for fans of fantasy and Asian culture. This is a story set in a fantasy Feudal Japan - note: not actually Feudal Japan - centring around a boy whose family and home is destroyed for their religion. He's rescued and adopted by an Otori Lord, one of the major clans, and brought up to be the heir to the Otori Clan. This is a thoughtful, beautifully written trilogy with thrilling plot twists, incredibly real characters and stunning description. [As you can tell, I rather love this series, haha.] Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard -- A victorian, steampunk-esque setting, witty and brilliant narration, ridiculous encounters with the dead and the supernatural and a snarky anti-hero protagonist. What more could one want? This is a book aimed toward more advanced readers - preferably who are well-versed in some British literature, as there are lots of references slipped in there - and those with quite a specific sense of humour. But if you enjoy any of the things I mentioned, then this book is possibly [and probably] for you. The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima -- Mishima's writing is one of the most unique styles I've ever come across - originally translated from Japanese - its description is so vivid and the characters feel so raw and real. He's one of the only authors I've known to portray his characters with such honesty. This is an unusual book for him, as most of his books focus on exploring destructive personalities and tragic love stories, and yet this one is a beautiful romance, pure and simple. Far less intense and thrilling than his other works, rather something to read if you just want to read a sweet story that is wonderfully written. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak -- Okay, I suppose this is the most well known on the list, but I couldn't leave it out. It's one of the most impactful books I've ever read and definitely made me cry more than usual with one of the most unique and beautiful stories, despite being of a genre with very little originality and less still beauty, especially when being truthful, as this book is. Narrated by Death themself, The Book Thief tells the story of a little girl growing up in Germany during World War II, but it is so much more than that statement, and yet nothing more at the same time. [Meaning it genuinely is about her rather than the setting she's been placed in.] You'd have to read it to understand what I truly mean. Flambards by K.M Peyton -- A childhood favourite series of mine, the Flambards series is many things. A coming of age story of a girl in 1912, a story pre and post World War I [not much of it is centred around it, especially as it's only present in the later books], a romance and also great for any horse enthusiasts. [And the second book for plane enthusiasts.] It's a very special book series, I think, especially the second one. It's told with honesty and no sugar-coating, and everything about it seems so real. Wild Swans by Jung Chang -- Possibly the only non-fiction novel I would place among my favourite books, Wild Swans is an auto-biography of three generations of women in the author's family [including herself, her mother and her grandmother] growing up in Communist China. It's an incredibly story - most of the time so much so that it's easy to forget it's a work of non-fiction and not made up - that is, at times, very depressing and then also very uplifting, at the same time. I think it's a book that everyone should read, no matter who you are or what you like to read. Starter for Ten by David Nicholls - Set in 1985, this is a hilarious book about an eighteen year-old named Brian Jackson who always wanted to go on University Challenge, a general knowledge television programme played by university students. It takes place as he first joins university and gets on a team, and is effectively thrown into one ridiculous scenario after another.
- Mads|Of course|K.M Peyton, Jonathon L. Howard, Yukio Mishima, Lauren St John, Lian Hearn|Johannes Cabal the Necromancer, Wild Swans, Across the Nightingale Floor, The Sound of Waves, Edge of the Cloud|I have a lot of favourite books, haha. I love manga, too, my favourites: Fullmetal Alchemist, Natsume's Book of Friends, Gintama, Blue Exorcist.]
- Lorekeeper Crow|Yes, I was there as The Lorekeeper|I have a few favourites, but I'd say Karen Miller, seeing as she wrote my favourite book. Robin Hobb's also another favourite of mine.|The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller|
- Tansypath|
- Swanwhisper | Yes | Marissa Meyer | I'm too indecisive to pick a favorite book, pfft, but it's probably either Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin or one of the Lunar Chronicles books |
- ☾ Cʀᴇsᴄᴇɴᴛ ☽ | Yes, I was formerly Larkflower | JK Rowling/Rick Riordan | An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir | Um... I'm an absolute nerd and too intense about academics for my own good. I love reading, writing, and also sports. I play travel soccer and the piano as well. Wow, I'm sounding a lot more cool/accomplished than I really am, but don't believe that for a second. I'm just a dork. XD |
- Thunderheart57 | Yes! I was a former member on the old forums. | Too many! Robin Hobb, the guys who made Death Note and Bakuman, the Erins, etc. | Dragon Keeper | I am writing two novels! |
- 2dhalfheart |No sadly haha | I don't think I have a favourite author I just read anything really. | Wintergirls (the book just connects to me so much) | I love writing although I usually don't get to far. I also do book reviews although I haven't had time to tape any of them haha |
- Windsong | Yes, I was a member (: | too hard to pick a favorite author right now e.e | Right now, a graphic novel called Awkward is my favorite book (: but hey, this is always subject to change... | What else do I want to mention? Um... nerd alert CD for anyone who doesn't know me, I'm a artist and writer who loves Star Wars, sci-fi stuffs, fantasy, dragons, ninja, superheroes, and so much more. You can further question me for more details if I haven't scared you off yet (;
- ρяσρнєт | Nope. It was too scary to join XD | J.R.R Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Erin Hunter, Christopher Paolini, Sabaa Tahir, Kristin Cashore, Terry Goodkind | Inheritance Cycle, Pendragon Series, The Sword of Truth Series, Warriors Series 1-4 | I'm 19 and planning to go do college soon ^u^ |
- threelittlewhispers | for a while, though i ended up leaving due to a busy schedule | /flails/ i wish i knew | i recomend Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe to literally anyone i see, so probably that, yeah | sometimes i type like this, sometimes i type with actual punctuation. it depends on how tired i am haha. also i might be gone for long periods of time due to school and chronic illness, is this the right time to just say that just in case? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 9:45:51 GMT -5
Welcome, all, to the new Librarium!Some of you might have seen us around the old forums. I must say, though, anyone and everyone's welcome to join, regardless of how busy we are. On that- I'll always be happy to chat to anyone, so if you ever want to discuss books, whatever, anything, really, I'll be pleased to. Any recommendations for books I might have will be posted here. I mostly like to read fantasy, so you'll mostly see that around. However, I do dabble into other genres from time to time. I'm also willing to read any age range as well, so I should probably warn you- some of the books I read might contain scenes beyond the age range you might favour, so read at your own risk.
Recommendations:
1- The Old Country- Mordicai Gerstein A book that takes the guise of an almost fairy-tale like story with a girl and a fox switching places. Why I love it, however, is because it reflects on themes such as racism and war- which, I have to admit, is quite an accomplishment for children's literature, as far as I've seen.
2- Game of Thrones by George RR Martin I haven't gotten onto the rest of the series yet, but GoT was a truly enthralling read. Be warned, though- it contains a fair amount of scenes inappropriate for younger audiences, as you likely know, so read at your own risk.
--- (If you're wondering at all, Mads created the coding for this post. That one was probably a given, but I figured I'd credit her for it anyway.)
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Post by swanwhisper on Aug 13, 2016 9:49:11 GMT -5
Welcome to the Librarium! (Another welcome - yep, a third one - just for you, since we're so pleased to have you here) I'm Swanwhisper, one of the three other admins here - but call me Swan. The Swanwhisper is my father's name.
Anyways you may have seen me around the old, forums before, if you were on them. I wrote a few fanfictions, sometimes posted on OTD, but after I joined the Librarium, I mostly stayed there so ayyy...probably not.
If you ever want to chat with me, you're more than welcome to! Just note that I'm very awkward at times and I have a loser sense of humor (and personality) but, no, for real - come talk to me. I would love for you to. ^^
And here are my recommendations. I'll try to change them up every month or two.
- The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
A four-part, fairytale-retelling series - with Cinder being the first book - about a cyborg Cinderella in the future on a mission to start a rebellion against the queen of a nearby alien colon. Of course, there's a lot more to it than just that, and though the first book is a bit slow, it's definitely a series I would recommend to anyone looking for a new read: it has a (ethnically and in personality) diverse and amazing cast, a plot that is more than just the fairytale it is retelling, and overall great writing.
- Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
A coming-of-age story about a fanfiction writer being thrust into college and learning how to live her own life apart from her twin sister and the fandom that helped get her through tough times. I usually don't read contemporary YA books - especially not ones as hyped up as this one was - but there was just something about this book that I really liked. From what I remember (considering I read this a while ago), there wasn't much of a plot, but if you want a slow, more character-driven read, I would suggest this book.
- Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
A fantasy/historical fiction book set in an alternate universe where the Axis Powers won World War II and an annual motorcycle race across Eujope celebrates their victory. Yael, a skinshifter, is on a mission to win the race and kill Hitler. I think this may be one of my favorite books of all time. It was fast-paced and it left me breathless and though its premise left room for the author to write a disappointing mess of a book, she did the complete opposite and wrote an outstanding novel.
Anyways, I feel like I've written one of those really crappy, one-lined reviews on the back of books (where there should be a blurb instead) but if anybody actually reads this and checks out one of these books, I hope you enjoy it!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2016 20:30:46 GMT -5
Lucky you, you get a fourth welcome. We're saving the best for last. If third time's the charm, then the fourth charm is obviously...perfection incarnate. That's a blatant lie. I'm not that arrogant. Usually. As you've probably guessed by now, I have a trash sense of humor. But feel free to chat with me--I don't bite. The Librarium is a very nice place, I promise. This is a 100% Judgement Free Zone. All judgement had to be deleted to make room for memes.
I have a trash sense of humor and I'm a book nerd. That's pretty much all you need to know about me. Oh, yes, and I'm also a writer. Start a conversation about fantasy, Faeries, music, or characters and I'm sure to show up somehow. Get to the point, Tans. That's me. Tans or Tansy. TP. Short for Tansypath, not toilet paper. If you're still reading this, and I applaud you, I shall now move onto more serious things. Like book recommendations. Yes! Books! That's what we came for, you nerd!
1. Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin. -If you skipped past Swan's recommendation for this...don't.
2. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. -Almost like Ocean's Eleven in a fascinating, well-done fantasy world, with criminal characters who have the potential to become your problematic children.
3. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas -This may be the second book in the series, but I loved it so much I'm mentioning it anyway. Ha. Fairy tales, faerie nerds, a strong cast of characters, an impending faerie invasion using the same magic that created the world... (*caution* this book contains sexual scenes, so please don't read it prematurely)
4. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson -Combines not-so-heroic superheroes, a post-apocalyptic America, and a clever protagonist who doesn't understand metaphors. A superbly creative setting.
5. Railhead by Philip Reeve -Beautifully written, with a lush setting that spans worlds and sentient trains.
To conclude this, welcome to the Librarium! We will do everything we can to ensure you have a wonderful time here. Just remember--never feel like you're intruding. This place can get busy sometimes, but we would never exclude anyone on purpose.
*ends introduction that was five times longer and weirder than it should have been*
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Post by Mads on Aug 14, 2016 17:50:07 GMT -5
Guess what? We're open!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 17:51:15 GMT -5
*crawls in* Hey.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 17:51:23 GMT -5
*skids in*
I'm so excited for this place, ahh!
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Post by Mads on Aug 14, 2016 17:51:28 GMT -5
Glad to have you back.
It's a parody of fantasy tropes, containing some stars-turned human and a very sarcastic anti-villain - who has his own POV - and it's just about the quests they go on and weird people they meet and places they visit. It's just a ridiculous, insane comedy/fantasy that's way too fun to write, haha. Ooh, that sounds like something I'd like! [How're you finding humans? xD] How's that going?
Inconceivable!
I might be gone by then, but have a good rest of your day! mads So, how's it going today? Wow, that sounds totally awesome. Parodies are always awesome! I'm actually liking humans, since they can do more things, wear clothes, etc. They're less limiting, I guess! Pretty well, thanks. I can try to dig up a synopsis if you want... Hi again! Pretty good, thank you! Just listening to my anime playlist.
Thank you very much, I'm glad you think so! Aren't they?
Yep, I'd say so, too! What did you write before? Yes please!
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Post by Mads on Aug 14, 2016 17:51:45 GMT -5
*skids in* I'm so excited for this place, ahh! Same here oh gosh
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 17:52:57 GMT -5
*skids in* I'm so excited for this place, ahh! Same here oh goshWelp, looks like we better start a chatting/CCing frenzy. Am I right?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 17:53:54 GMT -5
Tans: Yeah, same here!
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Post by Mads on Aug 14, 2016 17:54:57 GMT -5
No problem! Ah, I'm tired, too! Aw, are you going back to school tomorrow? What a horrible birthday present! xD I'm so sorry. I'm good, thank you! Trying to decide on a signature again, haha. I hope you get some rest too. I am. It is awful, haha. It's okay, though. Good luckN Oh my gosh, my posts keep cutting it out: I sent you an email. cx
Doubtful, what with the opening of the New Librarium. xD [ I capitalised it so it sounds really majestic now] Aw, I wish I could share my remaining weeks with you! At least the first day's not too bad, right? Thanks!
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Post by swanwhisper on Aug 14, 2016 17:56:41 GMT -5
I hope you get some rest too. I am. It is awful, haha. It's okay, though. Good luckN Oh my gosh, my posts keep cutting it out: I sent you an email. cx
Doubtful, what with the opening of the New Librarium. xD [ I capitalised it so it sounds really majestic now] Aw, I wish I could share my remaining weeks with you! At least the first day's not too bad, right? Thanks!Great! I'll check it out. Amazing. (The good Random Capitilizations, oh yes.) I wish I could too - it seems like all of you have longer vacations (well not really, but you know what I mean) but oh well.
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Post by swanwhisper on Aug 14, 2016 17:57:06 GMT -5
Welp, looks like we better start a chatting/CCing frenzy. Am I right? I'm so excited. xD You are right indeed, my friend.
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Post by ☾ Cʀᴇsᴄᴇɴᴛ ☽ on Aug 14, 2016 17:58:41 GMT -5
Nothing wrong with just hanging out and wasting your time on a cat forum, haha XD!
So, how's it feel to be a year older? I mean, it never felt that different for me, I guess, but that's what adults always ask. Get any presents? Yeah, nothing wrong at all. Not different at all - but only because I've felt like the age I'm now for quite awhile, ever since the new year, haha. I always think I'm technically a year older than I actually am during that time because of the new year, haha, but yeah. Yeah, mostly money, though, since that's all I asked for. xD Yeah, I totally get that. Right now I feel basically a year older than I am, too, since my birthday is September 18th. Money is a pretty good present, if you ask me! Any idea what you're going to get with it yet?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 17:59:41 GMT -5
Oh, yes, I forgot to say- hi, Cress!
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Post by swanwhisper on Aug 14, 2016 18:00:50 GMT -5
Yeah, nothing wrong at all. Not different at all - but only because I've felt like the age I'm now for quite awhile, ever since the new year, haha. I always think I'm technically a year older than I actually am during that time because of the new year, haha, but yeah. Yeah, mostly money, though, since that's all I asked for. xD Yeah, I totally get that. Right now I feel basically a year older than I am, too, since my birthday is September 18th. Money is a pretty good present, if you ask me! Any idea what you're going to get with it yet? I see. ^^ It is. I'm trying to save up for a laptop, yeah.
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Post by Mads on Aug 14, 2016 18:03:03 GMT -5
Welp, looks like we better start a chatting/CCing frenzy. Am I right? You most certainly are. xD Speaking of, care to?
[Do you want to move our Pinterest chat over to here?]
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Post by ☾ Cʀᴇsᴄᴇɴᴛ ☽ on Aug 14, 2016 18:03:42 GMT -5
mads So, how's it going today? Wow, that sounds totally awesome. Parodies are always awesome! I'm actually liking humans, since they can do more things, wear clothes, etc. They're less limiting, I guess! Pretty well, thanks. I can try to dig up a synopsis if you want... Hi again! Pretty good, thank you! Just listening to my anime playlist.
Thank you very much, I'm glad you think so! Aren't they?
Yep, I'd say so, too! What did you write before? Yes please! mads - Ooh, any favorite songs to recommend? I'm not super attached to any genre or anything, so I just like a hodgepodge of stuff. Mostly cats for Tuesday Challenges, to be honest. I just didn't have a ton of time for other stuff. But I am kind of in love with my MC. She's a sassy one. Okay, here we go: How are you supposed to save a religion you don't even believe in? Calynn, or Cai, is the daughter of Adira Abbascia, High Priestess and most powerful sorceress alive. Adira has high expectations for her daughter, and that means bringing back the glory of Dvanctism, or The Order of Twelve. The only problem is that Cai's not exactly sure that she believes in these gods. Cai doesn't want to disappoint, though, and so she goes along with her mother's ideals. She is sent from her home country to one of the most dangerous Empires in the world, where she enters the royal courts. Soon, she finds herself lost in a world she never knew existed, one of magic and secrets. There, Cai is expected to carry out an assassination for the good of Dvanctism. Determined to succeed, Cai hopes to find strength where she never thought she had it and maybe, in the end, even the strength to find herself.
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Post by ☾ Cʀᴇsᴄᴇɴᴛ ☽ on Aug 14, 2016 18:04:49 GMT -5
Oh, yes, I forgot to say- hi, Cress! Hey Lore! Anything interesting going on with you today? I've pretty much just been hanging out, watching the Olympics, etc. Nothing special, I guess. XD Just savoring my last few days of summer.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 18:05:25 GMT -5
Swan: Me tooo. XD Of course I'm right. Let's get down to business.
Mads: I would absolutely love to. Does it matter who I use? [Sure, I'm fine with that!]
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Post by Mads on Aug 14, 2016 18:05:36 GMT -5
Oh my gosh, my posts keep cutting it out: I sent you an email. cx
Doubtful, what with the opening of the New Librarium. xD [ I capitalised it so it sounds really majestic now] Aw, I wish I could share my remaining weeks with you! At least the first day's not too bad, right? Thanks! Great! I'll check it out. Amazing. (The good Random Capitilizations, oh yes.) I wish I could too - it seems like all of you have longer vacations (well not really, but you know what I mean) but oh well. Okie dokie!
It is, right? I'm doing literally nothing tomorrow, so I could pull an all-nighter and it wouldn't matter, haha. [They Have Returned My Friend.] Well, yours did start before me, right? But mine's a week longer this year, because we have a week less this Christmas, I believe. I hope you manage to survive. [Some teachers gave homework on the first day last year, what is that evil?]
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 18:05:49 GMT -5
Oh, yes, I forgot to say- hi, Cress! Hey Lore! Anything interesting going on with you today? I've pretty much just been hanging out, watching the Olympics, etc. Nothing special, I guess. XD Just savoring my last few days of summer.Not too much, really. Just writing and Pokemon, pretty much, which is admittedly just the way I like it. Hopefully you enjoy those last days. School can really put a damper on things.
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Post by swanwhisper on Aug 14, 2016 18:05:58 GMT -5
Swan: Me tooo. XD Of course I'm right. Let's get down to business. Mads: I would absolutely love to. Does it matter who I use? [Sure, I'm fine with that!] Would you like to chat and CC, then? xD
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 18:06:52 GMT -5
Also, hey, sorry, if I may ask- would you guys like to chat again?
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Post by swanwhisper on Aug 14, 2016 18:07:37 GMT -5
Great! I'll check it out. Amazing. (The good Random Capitilizations, oh yes.) I wish I could too - it seems like all of you have longer vacations (well not really, but you know what I mean) but oh well. Okie dokie!
It is, right? I'm doing literally nothing tomorrow, so I could pull an all-nighter and it wouldn't matter, haha. [They Have Returned My Friend.] Well, yours did start before me, right? But mine's a week longer this year, because we have a week less this Christmas, I believe. I hope you manage to survive. [Some teachers gave homework on the first day last year, what is that evil?]Nice. xD (Good.) It did, yeah. I see, that's pretty cool. Pfft, I would hope so too - but I doubt it. I know this year I'm going to have to work a bit more, which is unfortunate but oh well. (That's awful! The work of nightmares.)
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Post by swanwhisper on Aug 14, 2016 18:07:56 GMT -5
Also, hey, sorry, if I may ask- would you guys like to chat again? Sure! What about?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 18:08:22 GMT -5
Swan: Me tooo. XD Of course I'm right. Let's get down to business. Mads: I would absolutely love to. Does it matter who I use? [Sure, I'm fine with that!] Would you like to chat and CC, then? xD Sounds like a plan, Stan. XD What do you want to talk about? Do you care who I use?
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Post by Mads on Aug 14, 2016 18:08:51 GMT -5
Hi again! Pretty good, thank you! Just listening to my anime playlist.
Thank you very much, I'm glad you think so! Aren't they?
Yep, I'd say so, too! What did you write before? Yes please! mads - Ooh, any favorite songs to recommend? I'm not super attached to any genre or anything, so I just like a hodgepodge of stuff. Mostly cats for Tuesday Challenges, to be honest. I just didn't have a ton of time for other stuff. But I am kind of in love with my MC. She's a sassy one. Okay, here we go: -snip- As in anime music-wise, or just normal music? Because I have tons of both, haha. [Yeah, me too.]
I see. I stopped doing those a long while ago - perhaps I should get back into them, it's good practice! Oh, got to love sassy MCs, haha.
Wow, that sounds really fascinating, honestly. Definitely the kind of thing I'd love to read. cx
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2016 18:08:54 GMT -5
Also, hey, sorry, if I may ask- would you guys like to chat again? I'd love to. Do you have anything in mind?
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