Underground Bookshelf

I see them,

Brooke, a driven single mother and lawyer, never expected to find passion in the arms of a stranger at a bar. But their connection is undeniable, and they surrender to an electric night of desire. Months later, her world is turned upside down when she walks into her new legal clinic and comes face-to-face with Emma, one of her law students, and the woman she shared that unforgettable night with.

Protesting seems to be here to stay for a while. Although we will, one day, have to move onto next steps, we are still in the middle of building momentum and getting the attention of those in power. Below the image, you'll find ten more works of nonfiction that center protest and activism, but first, here are a few links to some of the more creative protests in modern history as well as a few pointers on how to get creative with protests and activism of your own.

Welcome back to Valek Akechi! Gothic literature is known for tackling religious commentary in a variety of ways. In this essay, Valek reflects on the ways Anne Rice's vampire characters dialogue about religion, particularly Christianity. This essay was originally published on Scorpio Assassin Studios.

Hands dip deep in soil.

The season that wandered so dull and cold

From street art and protest signs to posters and poetry, from chart-topping songs and well-known chants to novels and photography, art, both professional and amateur, has held an important place in protests and political movements through the generations. The ancillary resources in this post include information about the history and future of art and its role in protest as well as social media's current role in amplifying the message the artwork projects. If you're interested in creating your own political art, Matt Gabler and ArtSpace both offer useful tips for making your own political art or protest art, and Square Signs offers advice for creating an effective protest sign. To get to this week's reading list, scroll down!

I long for a her who never existed

A lot happened over the past weekend in the world of planned activism - such as in the events around Greta Thunberg and her fellow activists aboard the Madleen and the more spontaneous protests that grew in opposition to the Los Angeles ICE raids. Some of the books below seem to be well-timed primers on maintaining strength and resistance in difficult times. Others are reminders that quiet resistance, community support, and mutual aid are vital to the fight. If you are a quiet resister, or are, for any reason, unable to join the physical protests taking place across the world, below are a few ways that others have engaged in quiet protest.

Author Avery Brooks returns to the steamy city of New Orleans with a smart and sexy sapphic romance that asks, “Can workplace rivals fall in love and find a happily ever after?”

Welcome back to guest essayist, Valek Akechi! in this essay, Valek discusses Frances Burney's eighteenth-century work, The Witlings, which satirizes people who feign intellectual and literary knowledge for the sake of social standing. This essay was originally published on Scorpio Assassin Studios.