417 books
—
615 voters
to-read
(2296)
currently-reading (2)
read (356)
to-re-read (15)
partly-read (9)
old-lit (1)
fiction (817)
books-i-do-not-own (729)
historical-fiction (561)
fantasy (295)
mystery (248)
science-fiction (163)
currently-reading (2)
read (356)
to-re-read (15)
partly-read (9)
old-lit (1)
fiction (817)
books-i-do-not-own (729)
historical-fiction (561)
fantasy (295)
mystery (248)
science-fiction (163)
short-stories
(152)
non-fiction (143)
scandinavian-literature (133)
romance (132)
horror (130)
thriller (123)
dystopia (93)
english-monarchy (86)
historical-fantasy (81)
unfinished-series (77)
university-reads (72)
bookclubs (60)
non-fiction (143)
scandinavian-literature (133)
romance (132)
horror (130)
thriller (123)
dystopia (93)
english-monarchy (86)
historical-fantasy (81)
unfinished-series (77)
university-reads (72)
bookclubs (60)
“There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
― The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
― The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
― Pride and Prejudice
― Pride and Prejudice
“We read to know we're not alone.”
― Shadowlands: A Play
― Shadowlands: A Play
“Friendship ... is born at the moment when one man says to another "What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .”
― The Four Loves
― The Four Loves
“The best fantasy is written in the language of dreams. It is alive as dreams are alive, more real than real ... for a moment at least ... that long magic moment before we wake.
Fantasy is silver and scarlet, indigo and azure, obsidian veined with gold and lapis lazuli. Reality is plywood and plastic, done up in mud brown and olive drab. Fantasy tastes of habaneros and honey, cinnamon and cloves, rare red meat and wines as sweet as summer. Reality is beans and tofu, and ashes at the end. Reality is the strip malls of Burbank, the smokestacks of Cleveland, a parking garage in Newark. Fantasy is the towers of Minas Tirith, the ancient stones of Gormenghast, the halls of Camelot. Fantasy flies on the wings of Icarus, reality on Southwest Airlines. Why do our dreams become so much smaller when they finally come true?
We read fantasy to find the colors again, I think. To taste strong spices and hear the songs the sirens sang. There is something old and true in fantasy that speaks to something deep within us, to the child who dreamt that one day he would hunt the forests of the night, and feast beneath the hollow hills, and find a love to last forever somewhere south of Oz and north of Shangri-La.
They can keep their heaven. When I die, I'd sooner go to middle Earth.”
―
Fantasy is silver and scarlet, indigo and azure, obsidian veined with gold and lapis lazuli. Reality is plywood and plastic, done up in mud brown and olive drab. Fantasy tastes of habaneros and honey, cinnamon and cloves, rare red meat and wines as sweet as summer. Reality is beans and tofu, and ashes at the end. Reality is the strip malls of Burbank, the smokestacks of Cleveland, a parking garage in Newark. Fantasy is the towers of Minas Tirith, the ancient stones of Gormenghast, the halls of Camelot. Fantasy flies on the wings of Icarus, reality on Southwest Airlines. Why do our dreams become so much smaller when they finally come true?
We read fantasy to find the colors again, I think. To taste strong spices and hear the songs the sirens sang. There is something old and true in fantasy that speaks to something deep within us, to the child who dreamt that one day he would hunt the forests of the night, and feast beneath the hollow hills, and find a love to last forever somewhere south of Oz and north of Shangri-La.
They can keep their heaven. When I die, I'd sooner go to middle Earth.”
―
Goodreads Librarians Group
— 306174 members
— last activity 2 minutes ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
— 42813 members
— last activity 1 hour, 58 min ago
This group is for people participating in the Popsugar reading challenge for 2025 or 2026 (or any other year). The Popsugar website posted a reading c ...more
Marthe’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Marthe’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Marthe
Lists liked by Marthe
































