Branwen, Daughter of Llyr

if you've ever watched a movie with your film buff friend and chatted about it afterwards, that friend might have pulled hours more of conversation out of the same 90 minutes of screentime, and wondered how the fuck they did that - it's not raw intelligence, it's a skill that's been honed. And I learned a lot about film from talking to friends who knew about film, and reading critique by film scholars

literature works exactly the same. so if you want to get more out of your reading, there are things you can do to train that. Find a book or short story you think you've got a pretty good grasp on, preferably from a widely read & respected author like Ursula K Le Guin or Ray Bradbury (if you're new at this don't swing for the Toni Morrison or the Samuel Beckett yet unless you feel very comfortable with the complexity of the text - the point is to develop a complicated new skill on good foundations). Then go to JSTOR, create a free account, and look up criticism on the story you've chosen. Find something that looks readable to you and at least somewhat interesting. Read that article, and look at what that writer got out of the same story you've read that you didn't get. Do you see the critic's points? Did they teach you something about the text? Go reread that story and see if the criticism has changed how you read it. Are you seeing more? Are you thinking about the implications of a line that you hadn't noticed before? Does the story feel richer now?

you don't have to read more deeply if you don't want to (but i'd recommend it, i genuinely think it makes you a better person)

if you want to learn to read more deeply, the resources are out there. try to find critical literature (that is, academic writing that analyzes the text) on works your familiar with so you can get a sense for how to do that analysis too

learning to deep read literature can help you deep read many areas of your life

Giveaw@y: We’re giving away 12 vintage paperback classics! (Included are four editions from the collection of Alan Churchill Jones.) Won’t these look lovely on your shelf? Enter to win by: 1) following macrolit on Tumblr (yes, we will check. :P), and 2) reblogging this post. We will choose a random winner on 16 August 2026. Good luck!

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not touched by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring.

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

While Queens and other female consorts focus on children’s health and education Daemon couldn’t give a crap. He’s all about the thing that actually matters war and the falling birth rate.

He is his Queen’s biggest supporter and takes his position as her consort seriously with just the right amount of male condescension.

He will not be asserting his position through fashion or devout faith to the seven. He has no care about marital alliances.

No, instead he will assert his dominance through a podcast and lifestyle brand called The King’s Consortium. This podcast will be hosted by Daemon and will feature multiple guests such as the exclusive kik streamer Oscar Tully, captain of the gold cloaks Ser whateverhisname, his daughter the dragon rider Baela Targaryen, Caraxes his true work partner, the wise healer Alys Rivers not to mention multiple Essosi scholars who specialize in the history of ancient Valyria and no translated subtitles will not be available for such episodes.

Topics to be covered will include the superiority of the Valyrian race, how to raise boys in today’s society, proper sword fighting techniques, the untrustworthy nature of the dornish, how to maintain testosterone levels past the age of 50 and current events.

Daemon Targaryen has also been working on product development for The King’s Consortium brand including his must have secret ingredient extra concentrated draconic urea. Which he uses everyday to stay in peak condition. You can currently purchase a full two ounce bottle as a special offer at 25 gold dragons.

“The Things I Do For Love” / Bran’s Dream

Bran saw his father’s face change, saw the other men exchange glances. He loved Jon with all his heart at that moment. Even at seven, Bran understood what his brother had done. The count had come right only because Jon had omitted himself. He had included the girls, included even Rickon, the baby, but not the bastard who bore the surname Snow, the name that custom decreed be given to all those in the north unlucky enough to be born with no name of their own.

Stark Heir and Stark Bastard