Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo, is a 1400 page novel that defies description. Originally published in serial form, I read the Everyman’s edition, which described it as the story of Jean Valjean, and insofar as his story anchors the narrative throughout, that is an accurate description.

But the novel is really epic in proportion, weaving many characters lives together while trying to capture the moment of revolution and the lead up to it.

It is a deep reflection on society and humanity, starting from a reflection on the impact that those who act selflessly can have on the community around them, the corrupting rather than reformative power of the modern carceral system, how a cruel society creates the very people it identifies as aberrations.

While its digressions can at times become tedious, the narrative overall is captivating, propulsive, and in terms of its social commentary, remains deeply relevant to our society today. Perhaps because, despite our striving, we remain in the modern era that Hugo wrote about.

I’ll be spending the next two months on this momentous novel. Come along if you like.

QOTD: Have you read Les Miserables?

#worldliterature #Frenchliterature #cozyread #VictorHugo #currentread #whatimreading #bibliophile #classicnovel #classicliterature #comparativeliterature #complit #comparativelit #classicbookstagram #lesmiserables #bookstagram #booklover #theleveragedphd #bookstagrammer #pleasureread #studyinspo #booksbooksbooks #bookflatlay #classicscommunity #bibliophile #bigbooks #academicaesthetic #grayacademia #darkacademia #academiaaesthetic #cozyaesthetic

I’m sure you all have seen the TikTok debates about whether books are political or not. In the case of José Rizal and his body of work, his two novels were not only resoundingly political and anticolonial, but Rizal himself was executed by the Spanish colonial regime in the Philippines not because he was a part of the planning of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 (He was not), but because of his novels. The military claimed his novels had incited the revolution.

Imagine being such a powerful storyteller that a corrupt state decides to execute Yu on the grounds that your novels moved people to action. That is the power of storytelling and literature.

Of course, this story remains deeply resonant and relevant not only to the Philippines, but in the U.S., where efforts to ban books rage on, revealing how threatened some officials feel by the power of storytelling even as we’re told that studying literature is frivolous.

Remember José Rizal, and take some comfort in knowing the power of words and the power of communication to effect change.

There is undoubtedly more to be said about the relationship between the novel and the nation, but I’ll leave this month’s series at: I hope you’ll consider reading Rizal.

#worldliterature #Filipinoliterature #cozyread #joserizal #currentread #whatimreading #bibliophile #classicnovel #classicliterature #comparativeliterature #complit #comparativelit #classicbookstagram #nolimetangere #bookstagram #booklover #theleveragedphd #bookstagrammer #pleasureread #studyinspo #booksbooksbooks #bookflatlay #classicscommunity #bibliophile #bigbooks #academicaesthetic #grayacademia #darkacademia #academiaaesthetic #cozyaesthetic

Interrupting my usual programming to say that I read my first ever graphic novel/memoir/anything! Thanks to @tenspeedpress for sending me This Beautiful Ridiculous City by Kay Sohini, which finally prompted me to engage with this genre.

As a former urban literary scholar this was a return to my urban literary roots, and just a beautiful representation of the city overall. Full disclosure that Kay and I were at Stony Brook University doing our Ph.D.s in different lit departments around the same time. We’ve worked together before (she invited me to present on an MLA panel on careers back when I was about a year into my new life in publishing).

Reading books by people you know (even tangentially) is always a unique experience because you’re seeing the world through the eyes of someone that you’ve met, engaged with. It’s just a really different experience than reading works by a stranger (which is the majority of my reading).

What is really stunning about this work is that it isn’t just a book, it’s a beautifully conceived object. The artwork and color palette are stunning. I immediately felt like I’ll definitely reread and return to this book to take in the visuals and the nuances of the story.

It’s also a book I could see leaving out on my coffee table, or some other flat surface that needs a little life. It’s so vibrant, and a book I could see myself just thumbing through casually to brighten my day.

It deals with serious life challenges, but I think the seriousness and introspection of the work is offset by the brightness and vibrancy of the artwork.

10/10 would recommend. (And believe it or not I read a TON and don’t recommend or post about a large percentage of what I read).

QOTD: have you read any graphic books?

#bookstagram #bookstodon #booksbooksbooks #booklover #bibliophile #bibliophilelife #graphicmemoir #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookish #bookishlife #bookishlifestyle #bookflatlay #bookdecor #phdlife #postdoclife #theleveragedphd #academicaesthet

What is disappearance? In short, it is a repressive tactic used by authoritarian states to terrorize the civilian population into submission.

While the term “the disappeared” emerges in the aftermath of authoritarianism in Guatemala (1966) and Operation Condor in South America (perhaps most famously General Pinochet and his reign of terror in Chilean, but also juntas across South America including in Argentina), it describes a tactic that has long been in use and continues to be used by authoritarian regimes across the world, so it’s a concept to be aware of and understand.

Disappearance is characterized by illegal abduction, secret detention centers, torture, death, and unofficial burial.


Disappearance was, in theory, a way to avoid responsibility. The state maintained plausible deniability while effectively terrorizing their citizens into submission. The message is clear, you could be next.

QOTD: Have you heard of disappearing?

#studygram #notestagram #studygrammer #studying #academicaesthetic #academiaesthetic #researchlife #fountainpenink #postdoclife #theleveragedphd #fountainpen #journalaesthetic #fountainpenlover #darkacademia #studyspace #studytips #studyaesthetic #studyspo #studylife #studymotivation #rockyourhandwriting #journalaesthetic #studywithme #notespread #journaling #journalingcommunity #cozystudying #cozyaesthetic #leuchtturm1917

Pictured here is DEFY by Dr. Sunita Sah, out from One World.

I was really excited to read this galley because it both feels really timely and also is perfect for the work I do.

DEFY is about the way we’re trained from childhood to be compliant, to be obedient, and to not make waves. Sah sets out to explore what we lose when we lose the ability to voice our concerns, speak up, and advocate for ourselves.

This isn’t a book about changing the world (though maybe it could be). First and foremost it’s a book about teaching readers to stand up for themselves and others more, even (or maybe especially) when the stakes don’t seem that high.

Sah offers a modern history of compliance, great case studies of moments when compliance leads to disastrous results, along with lessons in how to become a more active participant in the decisions that impact your life.

Being about two chapters in, I’ve noticed a lot of parallels with case studies from research on psychological safety, so I’m excited to see the overlap between this and that subject area. And, of course, I’m looking forward to learning more strategies on how to defy.

QOTD: what new book are you most looking forward to in 2025?

#booklover #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booksta #booksbooksbooks #bookish #bookishlyengaged #bookishflatlay #cozyreading #nonfiction #nonfictionbooks #nonfictionreads #theleveragedphd #academicaesthetic #academiaaesthetic #academiavibes #darkacademia #currentlyreading #currentreads #travelread #airplaneread #airplanereading #businessread #businessreading #cozyvibes #cozydesk #cozydeskspace

Hi there! Now that I’ve started populating my feed a bit I wanted to introduce myself!

I’m Dr. Sophia Basaldua-Sun, a scholar of comparative literature turned publishing professional (I work in trade publishing now).

As a way of keeping in touch with my academic roots I created an Instagram blog about canonical novels, research, learning, and lately a bit of travel content as well.

I really love engaging with the book community, and especially with journaling, junk journaling, and creative journaling communities. Even though I’m more of a note taker than a journaler, I love observing and learning new ways of making my notebooks more visually interesting.

So that’s a little about me! And I hope you’ll tell me a little about you and join me for an occasional (okay three times a week) dose of learning about literature and comparative literature.

#darkacademia #darkacademic #darkacademiaaesthetic #postacademia #academiaaesthetic #academicaesthetic #phdlifestyle #postdoclifestyle #theleveragedphd #hello #thisisme #helloworld #journaling #journalingaesthetic