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Pandora Books
@pandora-books.bsky.social
420 followers 390 following 360 posts
Dangerous books, subversive literature, poetry, and thought-provoking quotes, along with the occasional pretty photo. Sometimes NSFW.
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pandora-books.bsky.social
Still Human. Model: Serpentine

#blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #monochrome #strangeportraits #inked #tattooedwomen #tattoos #pretty #stillhuman #serpentine #sansbook
Black and white photo of a woman's upper body. Her hair is falling down and partly obscures a tattoo which reads "Human."
December 5, 2025 at 12:27 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
"Like many women of my generation, I had been raised with the notion that only men needed to reach orgasm in sex. Women were thought to be satisfied by the emotional contact available in sexual intercourse."

Judy Chicago, "Fragments from the Delta of Venus"

#judychicago #anaisnin #womenwriters
An excerpt of the book "Fragments from the Delta of Venus", by Judy Chicago (powerHouse Cultural Entertainment, Inc., 2004). The passage reads, in part, "Like many women of my generation, I had been raised with the notion that only men needed to reach orgasm in sex. Women were thought to be satisfied by the emotional contact available in sexual intercourse." The passage also quotes Anais Nin: "I was always ashamed to take. So I gave. It was not a virtue. It was a disguise."
December 4, 2025 at 2:19 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
"The Sexual History of the World War," Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, Falstaff Press, New York, 1937

#vintagebooks #unusualbooks #strangebooks #history #booksky #eroticism #nurses #naughtynurses #ihavesomeverystrangebooks
Two photos of a very unusual book, published in 1937: "The Sexual History of the World War." One shows the book's title pages; the other shows the first page of a chapter on "The Eroticism of Nurses," including subsections such as "Sexual Curiosity of Nurses," "Nursing as Sex Outlet," "Strange Visits of Women to the Trenches," and "Reaction of Soldiers to Lusts of Nurses." Two photos of a very unusual book, published in 1937: "The Sexual History of the World War." One shows the book's title pages; the other shows the first page of a chapter on "The Eroticism of Nurses," including subsections such as "Sexual Curiosity of Nurses," "Nursing as Sex Outlet," "Strange Visits of Women to the Trenches," and "Reaction of Soldiers to Lusts of Nurses."
December 2, 2025 at 1:11 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
"Complicated," from "The Lioness Awakens," by Lauren Eden, Castle Point Books, New York, 2018.

#laureneden #poetry #poets #womenpoets #poetrybooks #castlepointbooks #bookphotos #complicatedbylaureneden #complicated
A photo of the book "The Lioness Awakens," by Lauren Eden. The book is open to a poem called "Complicated," which reads: "You're only complicated to a man / who simply wants to fuck you."
December 1, 2025 at 2:53 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
Along Lessing Street. Model: Ardis

#colorportraits #colorful #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer #chicago #beautifulwomen #goth #gothgirls #portraits #portraitphotography #ardis #graffiti
A beautiful woman clad entirely in black is seated on a railroad tie along a Chicago street. Her hair is bright blue and the wall behind her is painted with murals and graffiti.
November 29, 2025 at 6:48 AM
pandora-books.bsky.social
Dance with Death. Model: Van Helsing

#tattoos #tattooedwomen #ink #inked #inkedwomen #ballet #blackandwhite #monochrome #monochromemonday #hiddenwomen #vanhelsing #dancewithdeath
Black and white photo of a tattoo on a woman's thigh. She is a dancer, and the tattoo shows a skeleton in a tutu.
November 24, 2025 at 1:56 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
Smile Like the Sun. Model: Sunshine

#happiness #smiles #womenandbooks #monochromemonday #monochrome #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #blackandwhiteportraits #beautifulwomen #melanin #smilelikethesun #sunshine #originalphotography #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer
Black and white photo of a woman smiling broadly. Taken in the Harold Washington Library in 2024.
November 24, 2025 at 1:45 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
From "Home Body" by Rupi Kaur, @andrewsmcmeel.bsky.social, 2021

#rupikaur #love #homebody #poetry #poetrybooks #poets #artists #books #booksky #andrewsmcmeel
A fragment of a poem by Rupi Kaur, from the book "Home Body." (Andrews McMeel Publishing, Kansas City, Missouri, 2021) It reads: "Sometimes 'i love you' means i have nowhere else to go" A small illustration below the poem shows a figure holding ou flowers to another reclining figure.
November 23, 2025 at 8:46 AM
pandora-books.bsky.social
By the Windows. Model: A.H.

#photography #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #monochrome #originalphotography #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer #hiddenwomen #beautifulwomen #naturallight #sansbook #bythewindows #a.h.
A black and white photo of a woman in front of the windows in a downtown loft. Her face is concealed by a hat, but she is otherwise unclothed. Sunlight is streaming in through the windows.
November 23, 2025 at 7:46 AM
pandora-books.bsky.social
Red Lips and Research. Model: Venus

#womenandbooks #womenreading #hiddenwomen #kinsey #redlips #venus #originalphotography #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer
A woman with bright red lipstick and red nail polish is sitting on a park bench. Most of her face is hidden. She is reading Kinsey's "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female."
November 21, 2025 at 1:17 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
There must be a revised edition of this 1873 book on etiquette. The new version presumably explains that referring to women as "Piggy" is acceptable, for our very stable genius president would never behave in a manner contrary to common decency.

#trump #fucktrump #piggy #vintagebooks #booksky
Photo of a beautiful 1873 copy of "The Gentlemen's Book of Etiquette," by Cecil B. Hartley. Published by J. S. Locke & Company.
November 20, 2025 at 1:55 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
Casual Photography, Wicker Park. Model: @cassandra-fowler.bsky.social

#blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #monochrome #streetphotography #portraits #photos #photography #womenwithcameras #streetphotographer #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer #originalphotography #cj #cassandrafowler
Black and white photo of a woman, leaning against the side of a building, looking down at the screen of her camera.
November 18, 2025 at 1:25 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
The Key to Her Heart Is in There Somewhere

#keys #secrets #love #longing #desire #hope
Many small skeleton keys are arranged on wooden surface. Several of the keys have decorative hearts.
November 14, 2025 at 1:04 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
I have a habit of marking favorite passages in the books I'm reading. I've just finished "Hekate" by Nikita Gill (@nikitagill.bsky.social). Expect to see quotes. MANY quotes.

#nikitagill #hekate #hecate #poetry #poets #verse #mythology #booksky #beautifulbooks #beautifulwriting
#lovedthisbook
Photo of the book "Hekate" by Nikita Gill (Little, Brown, and Company: Hatchette Book Group, 2025). Many brightly-colored tags are being used as bookmarks. Gill's book is lying on top of a copy of "Women," by Anne Leibovitz and Susan Sontag.
November 12, 2025 at 1:06 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
Sexual Criminal (Demure). Model: Mia
Book: "Woman as a Sexual Criminal" by Dr. Erich Wulffen, American Ethnological Press, New York, 1934.

#womenandbooks #photography #chicagophotographer #portraits #mia #erichwulffen #dangerouswomen #hiddenwomen #unusualbooks #vintagebooks #womanasasexualcriminal
A woman in a short dress is seated on a brightly-painted wall. The book "Woman as a Sexual Criminal" is beside her.
November 9, 2025 at 7:05 AM
pandora-books.bsky.social
In honor of Halloween: Model @cassandra-fowler.bsky.social with her own brand of witchcraft.

#photography #halloween #happyhalloween #witches #witchcraft #bewitching #womenandbooks #originalphotography #strangeportraits #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer #cj #cassandrafowler #beauty #redhead
A beautiful woman with bright red hair holds a copy of the book "Witches," by Nigel Suckling, which totally sounds like a real name.
October 31, 2025 at 12:21 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
In "The Testaments," describing the fall of Gilead, Margaret Atwood mentions "successful attacks from within certain parts of the former United States, such as the Missouri hill country, the areas in and around Chicago and Detroit..."

This is a vote of faith. Margaret, I love you.
#chicago #atwood
A photo of a hardbound copy of The Testaments by Margaret Atwood.
October 30, 2025 at 12:58 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
Racist? Rapist? They aren't mutually exclusive.
No Kings Protest, Chicago, October 18, 2025

#nokings #nokingsprotest #nokingschicago #originalphotography #protests #chicago #trump #fucktrump #believethewomen
A woman holds a sign with a fill-in-the-blank comment: "Donald Trump is a Ra_ist!?" Two options are given: Racist, or Rapist.
October 19, 2025 at 2:23 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
He said, "Books or me?" Sometimes I remember him when I am buying new books.

#books #booksky #readers #lovebooks #bibliophile #vintagebooks #beautifulbooks #oldbooks #silly #funny
Photo of a jar with a retro-style sticker showing a woman buying books. The sticker reads: He said, "Books or me?" Sometimes I remember him when I am buying new books." Several beautiful vintage books are visible in the background.
October 18, 2025 at 6:25 AM
pandora-books.bsky.social
Divided. Model: J.

#blackandwhite #monochrome #blackandwhitephotography #originalphotography #portraits #strangeportraits #j #chicagophotographer #sansbook
A young woman stands behind the corner of a building. Half of her face is concealed. Taken in Waukegan, Illinois, in 2017.
October 17, 2025 at 12:38 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
Wistful. Model: @cassandra-fowler.bsky.social

#photography #blackandwhite #monochrome #portraits #longing #love #wistful #sansbook #chicagomodel #chicagophotographer #originalphotography #personalfavorites #cj #cassandrafowler
A black and white photo of a woman holding a rose and looking out the window. She is facing away from the camera and is holding the curtain to one side.
October 14, 2025 at 11:37 AM
pandora-books.bsky.social
"Why do we make ourselves so fierce that we scare hearts away once we have invited them in?"
Detail of a mural by Rachel Slotnick (Chicago, 2015)

#rachelslotnick #artists #art #publicart #murals #chicago #logansquare #chicagomural #colorful
Detail of a mural by Rachel Slotnick. A question painted in black letters reads: "Why do we make ourselves so fierce that we scare hearts away once we have invited them in?" The mural was painted in 2014, and the photo was taken in 2015.
October 10, 2025 at 3:37 AM
pandora-books.bsky.social
The first line of "Fahrenheit 451" is: "It was a pleasure to burn." This is the essence of Donald Trump's appeal. Truly making America great would involve hard work. Keeping America angry? That's easy.

#bannedbooks #bannedbooksweek #trump #maga #raybradbury #fahrenheit451 #booksky
A photo of Ray Bradbury's book "Fahrenheit 451," in front of glowing embers.
October 8, 2025 at 12:59 PM
pandora-books.bsky.social
"Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled 'This could change your life.'"
- Helen Exley

#helenexley
#bannedbooksweek
#bannedbooks
#bookbans
#censorship
#books
#booksky
Photo of travel mug with a quote from Helen Exley: "Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled 'This could change your life.'"
October 5, 2025 at 6:43 AM
pandora-books.bsky.social
Tina Was Here. Chicago, 2018.

#graffiti #tinabelcher #bobsburgers #silly #butts #iheartbutts #istandwithtina
Black and white photo of graffiti along a Chicago street: "I (heart) butts"
October 5, 2025 at 3:12 AM