Susan
@violetephemera.bsky.social
Teacher, ex-academic, avid reader, houseplant keeper, and cat person.
PhD in Victorian literature and science
📚 🐈🪴 🍉
PhD in Victorian literature and science
📚 🐈🪴 🍉
A holiday-themed #caturday from earlier this week when Ivy took a nap on a pile of tissue paper and bubble wrap from the Christmas ornaments. She thought it was the best new bed!
December 6, 2025 at 11:41 PM
A holiday-themed #caturday from earlier this week when Ivy took a nap on a pile of tissue paper and bubble wrap from the Christmas ornaments. She thought it was the best new bed!
Book 60 of 2025 📚💙 All the Little Monsters by David Robertson, a memoir of his experiences with anxiety. His description of the uneven nature of "progress" as life events occur was especially helpful. Sometimes, you just need to hear about someone going through a similar experience to feel better.
November 30, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Book 60 of 2025 📚💙 All the Little Monsters by David Robertson, a memoir of his experiences with anxiety. His description of the uneven nature of "progress" as life events occur was especially helpful. Sometimes, you just need to hear about someone going through a similar experience to feel better.
It's been a tough few weeks, so I treated myself to a couple of Regency Cats blind boxes and, fortunately, got the two I wanted! Lady Sheddington and Miss Meowsly now hold an honoured place on my bookshelf.
November 24, 2025 at 1:18 AM
It's been a tough few weeks, so I treated myself to a couple of Regency Cats blind boxes and, fortunately, got the two I wanted! Lady Sheddington and Miss Meowsly now hold an honoured place on my bookshelf.
Happy #caturday from Ivy. This photo is from a few days ago, when she took over my bed before I had a chance to make it, and she disapproved of my attempts to move her. Stay cozy, like Ivy!
November 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Happy #caturday from Ivy. This photo is from a few days ago, when she took over my bed before I had a chance to make it, and she disapproved of my attempts to move her. Stay cozy, like Ivy!
Book 59 of 2025 📚💙 What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher, the third in the Gothic horror series, this time set in a West Virginian mine haunted by a Lovecraftian creature. As always with her work, I enjoy the descriptive writing and unique characters; this one also had a fun plot twist. #booksky
November 9, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Book 59 of 2025 📚💙 What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher, the third in the Gothic horror series, this time set in a West Virginian mine haunted by a Lovecraftian creature. As always with her work, I enjoy the descriptive writing and unique characters; this one also had a fun plot twist. #booksky
Book 58 of 2025 📚💙 Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa, which depicts a day in the life of a thoughtful and observant nail salon owner. It's like Joyce's Ulysses retold by one many deem invisible, and it takes on the best and most memorable elements of Thammavongsa's short stories. #booksky
November 2, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Book 58 of 2025 📚💙 Pick a Colour by Souvankham Thammavongsa, which depicts a day in the life of a thoughtful and observant nail salon owner. It's like Joyce's Ulysses retold by one many deem invisible, and it takes on the best and most memorable elements of Thammavongsa's short stories. #booksky
I received the teabag bookmark that I ordered from @cupofmin.bsky.social this week, and it came with this cute assortment of goodies. The bookmark is a lovely work of fibre art, with many exquisite little details that bring the embroidery to life. 😊
October 26, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I received the teabag bookmark that I ordered from @cupofmin.bsky.social this week, and it came with this cute assortment of goodies. The bookmark is a lovely work of fibre art, with many exquisite little details that bring the embroidery to life. 😊
Book 57 of 2025 📚💙 Restaurant Kid by Rachel Phan, a memoir of her childhood in small-town Ontario, haunted by her parents' restaurant and her alienation as one of the few Asian people in her community. I especially enjoyed the last chapters when Phan connected with her family and history. #booksky
October 26, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Book 57 of 2025 📚💙 Restaurant Kid by Rachel Phan, a memoir of her childhood in small-town Ontario, haunted by her parents' restaurant and her alienation as one of the few Asian people in her community. I especially enjoyed the last chapters when Phan connected with her family and history. #booksky
Book 56 of 2025 📚💙 Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher, a fantasy medical mystery filled with little creative touches that made the whole story a joy to read, like a belled rattle snake, spirit houses, a literal mirror world. Probably my favourite of her novels so far. #booksky
October 19, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Book 56 of 2025 📚💙 Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher, a fantasy medical mystery filled with little creative touches that made the whole story a joy to read, like a belled rattle snake, spirit houses, a literal mirror world. Probably my favourite of her novels so far. #booksky
A day late for #caturday but couldn't resist posting a picture of Ivy anyway. In the mornings, she sits on my bed to watch the reflections of light that play on the walls. She's always loved light and shadows, often more than real toys.
October 12, 2025 at 1:23 PM
A day late for #caturday but couldn't resist posting a picture of Ivy anyway. In the mornings, she sits on my bed to watch the reflections of light that play on the walls. She's always loved light and shadows, often more than real toys.
Book 55 of 2025 📚💙 Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle, the story of Vera, who survives a horrific event and, years later, is asked to investigate the casino that may have caused it. The supernatural elements are imaginative and fun; the horror is gruesome; and Vera's journey is worth every minute. #booksky
October 10, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Book 55 of 2025 📚💙 Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle, the story of Vera, who survives a horrific event and, years later, is asked to investigate the casino that may have caused it. The supernatural elements are imaginative and fun; the horror is gruesome; and Vera's journey is worth every minute. #booksky
Book 54 of 2025 📚💙 From the Rez to the Runway by Christian Allaire, a memoir about achieving his dream of becoming a fashion journalist for Vogue. It's a story of fortunate timing, sacrifices and risks, and, above all, Indigenous joy. Refreshing to read a (mostly) happy memoir. #booksky
October 6, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Book 54 of 2025 📚💙 From the Rez to the Runway by Christian Allaire, a memoir about achieving his dream of becoming a fashion journalist for Vogue. It's a story of fortunate timing, sacrifices and risks, and, above all, Indigenous joy. Refreshing to read a (mostly) happy memoir. #booksky
Book 53 of 2025 📚💙 Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, who navigates the grief of losing her mother through their shared love of food. Her descriptions of food are so vivid that I could smell and taste it all while reading. It lost momentum in the middle for me, but ended on a strong note. #booksky
October 3, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Book 53 of 2025 📚💙 Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, who navigates the grief of losing her mother through their shared love of food. Her descriptions of food are so vivid that I could smell and taste it all while reading. It lost momentum in the middle for me, but ended on a strong note. #booksky
Wish I could say I intentionally planted these asters, but they were part of a wildflower seed mix from last year that I didn't even know contained asters until this August. But here they are, taking the spotlight now that most other flowers are dying back, and the bumblebees love them. #plantsky
September 28, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Wish I could say I intentionally planted these asters, but they were part of a wildflower seed mix from last year that I didn't even know contained asters until this August. But here they are, taking the spotlight now that most other flowers are dying back, and the bumblebees love them. #plantsky
Book 52 of 2025 📚💙 Mandelbrot the Magnificent by Liz Ziemska, a fictionalized autobiography of the mathematician in which he combines math with his Jewish faith to rescue his family during WWII. The magic system is unique and fascinating to watch unfold on the page in complex equations. #booksky
September 28, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Book 52 of 2025 📚💙 Mandelbrot the Magnificent by Liz Ziemska, a fictionalized autobiography of the mathematician in which he combines math with his Jewish faith to rescue his family during WWII. The magic system is unique and fascinating to watch unfold on the page in complex equations. #booksky
Book 51 of 2025 📚💙Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, one I missed in all my years of English classes. A weird story, as unsettling today as it was in its own time (though perhaps for different reasons). Huxley, like Orwell, seemed to understand the state of "Western" society a bit too well. #booksky
September 24, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Book 51 of 2025 📚💙Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, one I missed in all my years of English classes. A weird story, as unsettling today as it was in its own time (though perhaps for different reasons). Huxley, like Orwell, seemed to understand the state of "Western" society a bit too well. #booksky
Book 49 of 2025: Son of Elsewhere by Elamin Abdelmahmoud, a collection of thoughtful essays exploring the impact of media on his life. He's an excellent writer, very engaging with a great depth of emotion for a range of topics from cultural mourning rituals to early 2000s nu metal. #booksky
September 20, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Book 49 of 2025: Son of Elsewhere by Elamin Abdelmahmoud, a collection of thoughtful essays exploring the impact of media on his life. He's an excellent writer, very engaging with a great depth of emotion for a range of topics from cultural mourning rituals to early 2000s nu metal. #booksky
My lithops has treated me to a flower, which brightened an otherwise challenging week at work. This pot is a few years old, kept alive by a plant light and plenty of neglect.
September 15, 2025 at 12:11 AM
My lithops has treated me to a flower, which brightened an otherwise challenging week at work. This pot is a few years old, kept alive by a plant light and plenty of neglect.
Book 48 of 2025: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad, in which he connects the dots of what's wrong with Western society (in many ways). His writing is simultaneously poetic and pointed, the book simultaneously hard to read and hard to put down. #booksky
September 14, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Book 48 of 2025: One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad, in which he connects the dots of what's wrong with Western society (in many ways). His writing is simultaneously poetic and pointed, the book simultaneously hard to read and hard to put down. #booksky
Book 47 of 2025 💙📚 The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst, a cozy fantasy with an imaginative setting of an island of greenhouses. I enjoyed the descriptions of the magical plants and spells, though I wish that this series had more depth to make it satisfying (rather than a sweet snack).
September 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Book 47 of 2025 💙📚 The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst, a cozy fantasy with an imaginative setting of an island of greenhouses. I enjoyed the descriptions of the magical plants and spells, though I wish that this series had more depth to make it satisfying (rather than a sweet snack).
For #caturday here's a throwback to Ivy's gotcha day, which was six years ago this week. She was excited to land in a place with windows and lots of space just for her. Today, she's a spoiled, bossy princess, but she's still pretty cute.
August 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
For #caturday here's a throwback to Ivy's gotcha day, which was six years ago this week. She was excited to land in a place with windows and lots of space just for her. Today, she's a spoiled, bossy princess, but she's still pretty cute.
Book 46 of 2025 💙📚 The Hollow Half by Sarah Aziza, a memoir in both a poetic and fragmentary style that corresponds with the author's focus on the fragmented nature of her identity as a Palestinian-American. It's a challenging read, but worth every moment you devote to it. #booksky
August 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Book 46 of 2025 💙📚 The Hollow Half by Sarah Aziza, a memoir in both a poetic and fragmentary style that corresponds with the author's focus on the fragmented nature of her identity as a Palestinian-American. It's a challenging read, but worth every moment you devote to it. #booksky
One evening, three welcome visitors to the garden: a great spangled fritillary, a monarch, and a hummingbird. It's been a great year for butterflies! #gardensky
August 25, 2025 at 12:25 AM
One evening, three welcome visitors to the garden: a great spangled fritillary, a monarch, and a hummingbird. It's been a great year for butterflies! #gardensky
Book 45 of 2025 💙📚 Brown Boy by Omer Aziz, a memoir of a Pakistani boy growing up in the GTA who embraces Western educational goals only to realize their false facade. A thoughtfully-told story reflecting on what he really learned from his experience in education and politics. #booksky
August 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Book 45 of 2025 💙📚 Brown Boy by Omer Aziz, a memoir of a Pakistani boy growing up in the GTA who embraces Western educational goals only to realize their false facade. A thoughtfully-told story reflecting on what he really learned from his experience in education and politics. #booksky