Sign in with Facebook
11 books
—
105 voters
to-read
(78)
currently-reading (1)
read (988)
did-not-finish (0)
ebook (170)
contemporary-fiction (144)
china (127)
history (126)
classics (121)
general-non-fiction (96)
mystery-thriller (89)
long-ago-and-never-was (86)
currently-reading (1)
read (988)
did-not-finish (0)
ebook (170)
contemporary-fiction (144)
china (127)
history (126)
classics (121)
general-non-fiction (96)
mystery-thriller (89)
long-ago-and-never-was (86)
2010
(83)
british-literature (81)
wanderlust (71)
indonesia (69)
bbc-big-reads (66)
2011 (65)
jess-shelf (61)
2009 (59)
swapable (52)
art (46)
autobiography (43)
read-as-a-kid (40)
british-literature (81)
wanderlust (71)
indonesia (69)
bbc-big-reads (66)
2011 (65)
jess-shelf (61)
2009 (59)
swapable (52)
art (46)
autobiography (43)
read-as-a-kid (40)
“They will not be pleased. But they know we must catch the monsoon with a well-found ship; and they know they are in the Navy--they have chosen their cake, and must lie on it.'
You mean, they cannot have their bed and eat it.'
No, no, it is not quite that either. I mean--I wish you would not confuse my mind, Stephen.”
― H.M.S. Surprise
You mean, they cannot have their bed and eat it.'
No, no, it is not quite that either. I mean--I wish you would not confuse my mind, Stephen.”
― H.M.S. Surprise
“A book,
a book full
of human touches,
of shirts,
a book
without loneliness, with men
and tools,
a book
is victory.”
― Odes to Common Things
a book full
of human touches,
of shirts,
a book
without loneliness, with men
and tools,
a book
is victory.”
― Odes to Common Things
“Books don't offer real escape, but they can stop a mind scratching itself raw.”
― Cloud Atlas
― Cloud Atlas
“The truth of a myth...is not in its words but its patterns.”
― The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet
― The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet
“Sonnet XVII
I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way than this:
where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep. ”
―
I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way than this:
where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep. ”
―
Classics and the Western Canon
— 4960 members
— last activity May 29, 2026 06:35PM
This is a group to read and discuss those books generally referred to as “the classics” or “the Western canon.” Books which have shaped Western though ...more
readers advisory for all
— 5732 members
— last activity Mar 10, 2026 04:29AM
life's too short to read crappy books. this is why readers' advisory exists. feel free to join if you are looking for "a book like____" or "a book tha ...more
Grace Tjan’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Grace Tjan’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
726 books
|
104 friends
1,707 books
|
147 friends
1,233 books
|
52 friends
13,086 books
|
321 friends
3,678 books
|
1,539 friends
6,199 books
|
4,950 friends
459 books
|
34 friends
2,079 books
|
162 friends
More friends…
Polls voted on by Grace Tjan
Lists liked by Grace Tjan
