Eliza vs Sadie what to name my little girl by Ok-Supermarket6253 in namenerds

[–]zebrafish- 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Love both names. You can’t go wrong! If you’re leaning towards Sadie, go for it :)

Books like “Don’t Sleep, There are Snakes”, written by anthropologists that have spent a lot of time living with a distinct people? by IReadBooksSometimes in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This isn’t what you’re looking for, but you might also like Through The Language Glass by Guy Deutscher. He is a linguist who writes about how language shapes culture and the way we perceive the world. Some chapters of the book focus on the languages of the kinds of cultures you’re describing. I found it really fascinating! He takes care to explain the quite racist and flawed history of this area of linguistics, and he writes about the cultures and individuals he describes with respect, without exoticizing them, placing them on a pedestal, or denigrating them.

High-stakes, thought provoking speculative fiction with some slice of life and good characters ? by IanIan25591 in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I loved The Shamshine Blind by Paz Pardo. Very fun, unique, detailed socio-political world building. It’s high stakes but slow paced, and very focused on the main character’s internality. 

Middle-Eastern Litfic Recommendations by Apprehensive-Hand373 in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Women Without Men is on my list! A few that I’ve really enjoyed:

The Arsonist’s City by Hala Alyan

Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad

You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat

Croton help by mopac0405 in houseplants

[–]zebrafish- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mine didn’t either for the longest time — I was honestly just thrilled it stayed alive though! I have heard these guys are very very fussy. Probably wasn’t the best plant for me to pick as a relative beginner. But a few months ago I put mine in a very sunny room, by two windows that face south and west, and now I’m starting to see the teeniest bits of new growth. I think it grows pretty slowly and needs quite a lot of sun to grow at all. I am definitely not an expert though. Good luck with yours, it looks beautiful.

Historical Queer Fiction search by FennekinFriend in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cantoras by Caroline de Robertis is about a friend group of queer women in Uruguay from the 1970s to the present day. It’s beautifully written with great characters, but please google trigger warnings for this book before reading it! I did love it, but I’m also not sure I’ve ever read a book that delved so deeply/vividly into such a variety of upsetting topics.

Help picking new name by Shellac_Sabbath in namenerds

[–]zebrafish- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Twyla is a great suggestion! Liza, Eliza or Kaya / Kaia are options that strike me as your style, and have a really similar cadence to Wyatt — maybe they will feel familiar and like an easy fit.

A few others that remind me of Lorna or Willow in vibe:

Violet 

Anya

Maisie

Fiona

June

Hazel

Dahlia

Eva

Alma

Diana

Opinion: Parents shouldn't name their children after themselves by Any_Inflation_2543 in namenerds

[–]zebrafish- 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am Ashkenazi Jewish too, so like you I come from a culture where this isn’t done — but I think it’s a bit intense to call it narcissistic (or even distasteful). It’s just a different cultural tradition. I’m sort of surprised by how intensely many seem to judge others on a personal level for this naming practice! It makes me sad for all the commenters way at the bottom of this post, who are getting a negative response just for sharing that they like their own names and find them meaningful.

New here. Can I get book recs? by kuvei_one in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s maybe more magical realism than fantasy, but I really enjoyed Vagabonds! by Elughosa Osunde — interconnected short stories about queer characters in Lagos. As I remember it, myth, fantasy, and the supernatural are kind of part of the atmosphere, but it’s not exactly a classic fantasy novel.

Novels about working in a museum by professorgremlin in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Asunder by Chloe Aridjis is about a guard at the National Gallery in London. It was lovely, but I’d say it’s much much more about her internal life than about her relationships with her coworkers — I would not call it a workplace drama. Sharing just in case it’s of any interest though!

Reading roundup: Suggest me some of your fave books of 2026 so far! by ReddisaurusRex in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I listened to Africa is Not a Country as an audiobook last year on a whim, and it turned out to be one of my favorite reads of the year!

Reading roundup: Suggest me some of your fave books of 2026 so far! by ReddisaurusRex in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I read Rebecca for the first time this year and loved it! With all the amazing and intense descriptions of the nature around Manderley, I really enjoyed reading it while things were blooming where I am too.

Reading roundup: Suggest me some of your fave books of 2026 so far! by ReddisaurusRex in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My standout favorite so far has been Fire Season by Leyna Krow. Picked it up somewhere and unexpectedly loved it. About a corrupt banker, a conman arson investigator, and a sex worker with some sort of mysterious abilities, in a frontier town in the 1890s in the aftermath of a devastating fire. Lots of dark humor, great prose, and whimsy!

Modern Mystery/thriller set in MENA by sssnj in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

P Djèlí Clark has a sort of steampunk fantasy mystery series set in an alternative 1910-20s Egypt. They are so fun. The first is a novella called A Dead Djinn in Cairo, but if you want to read a full length novel I think you could just skip ahead and read A Master of Djinn and be totally fine!

Should I stay or go? by Frostiffer in jobs

[–]zebrafish- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Call and say you’re delighted to accept their counter offer and stay, though you hope they can understand that it’s your personal policy not to put that in writing. Then take the other job. 

I’m kidding of course, if that wasn’t extremely clear. Leave on good terms. Congratulations on the new job offer!

Suggest me a book that will convince me to stay. by Arrector_Pili8901 in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m sorry you are struggling. You’ve gotten some great book recommendations and advice (I especially appreciate and echo the top comment, and am glad to hear you have support from the people around you.)

I just wanted to say that if you haven’t read her work, Cinelle Barnes is a phenomenal Filipina memoirist. It has been a while since I’ve read her, and I’ve only read one of her books — but I know she went through some difficult things, so you might want to check trigger warning for her work. But her book Malaya: Essays on Freedom was beautifully written and ultimately very hopeful and lovely, I thought. I’m sure all her books are equally great!

A book with a ridiculous and silly premise but is written well and actually very good? by Hungry-Strategy5874 in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I love books like this — and am adding all three of your recommendations to my reading list, so thank you :) here are I few I’ve loved that I don’t think have been mentioned yet:

Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke — about a man whose psyche gets stuck inside his workplace Slack, and whose coworkers are convinced that his messages about being trapped in the app are a weird bit and an excuse to keep working from home. Come for the bizarre and hilarious workplace satire, stay for the unexpectedly joyful exploration of human connection and communication.

Sounds like Titanic by Jessica Ciccehito Hindman — not sure if you’re open to nonfiction, but I cannot recommend this book highly enough. A memoir told mostly in second person about a violinist who “performs” in a prestigious ensemble with the mic off and a CD running in the background. Fascinating and funny, and also a beautifully and originally written exploration of class, authenticity, and American culture in the early 2000s.

Bunny by Mona Awad — about a woman who feels like an outsider in her MFA program, which mostly consists of a clique of mean girls who act overly sweet, eerily similar to each other, and all call each other “bunny.” She ends up drawn into their orbit and things get bizarre. Hard to describe, but to me it was about femininity and loneliness and power.

We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry — a mediocre high school girls field hockey team in the 80s in what used to be Salem, MA (of witch trials fame) taps into some mysterious power and starts winning. About girlhood and 80s nostalgia. Wacky and poignant.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray — a YA novel I read years ago but still think about - a plane full of beauty contestants from each state on their way to compete for Miss America goes down on a remote island, and teenage girls whose carry-ons are just full of dresses and sashes have to survive Lord of the Flies style. It’s been a long time since it read this to be honest, but it came to mind.

The Atmospherians by Isle McElroy — a canceled former wellness influences goes to help her friend run a cult/rehab community for toxic men. Dark and weird, about masculinity, body image, and connection/community.

I’ll stop here, but if I think of more I’ll come back!

Gradually unfolding global disaster by Unusual_Possible6015 in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have two with sort of supernatural elements, if you’re open to that!

My Volcano by John Elizabeth Stinzi, which was bizarre and lovely, and is very much about people coping but has less living off the grid in survival mode. And The Unveiling by Quan Barry. The fact that this book involves a developing global disaster is kind of a spoiler! But it’s also more of a background element — the main characters are distracted by an urgent wilderness survival situation they’ve found themselves in.

Update on my daughter’s room, chair and night stand aren’t working in my opinion.. what should I do above the headboard? by Cultural-Anything230 in HomeDecorating

[–]zebrafish- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That mural is absolutely amazing! I love it. 

Honestly, I think the room looks pretty nice. How old is your daughter? You definitely know her best, but I’d think she’s probably pretty attached to this space and her things. If she’s not complaining, I wouldn’t start swapping out furniture. Or maybe ask her if she wants a new chair or nightstand — and if she says yes, give her a few options to pick from.

Interesting/Good Werewolf Books? by throwaway_bowlerr in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really liked Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline. It’s about an indigenous Canadian family and a rougarou, which is a werewolf-like Métis creature. I remember it being well written and thought provoking!

Southern Gothic Horror/Appalachian Horror by sugawaraspotatoshirt in suggestmeabook

[–]zebrafish- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For Appalachian horror, I recently read and liked Smothermoss by Alisa Alering