iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Brittany Vesterback @bvesterback.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

A book for pleasure, a book for incipient panic, and a book for professional development #booksky #amreading

Three books arranged in a loose triptych on a wood table. A reddish book with a mushroom motif, "A Trade in Blood" by Robert Jackson Bennett, a white book featuring human legs and a horse head "The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI" by Cory Doctorow, and an orange book with that 2010s ray motif common to 2010s nonfiction books "Indexing Names" by Noeline Bridge.

Brittany Vesterback @bvesterback.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Loving The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, feels like a fantasy, unhinged female Sherlock Holmes with equally but differently unhinged Watson, in a lush, coastal setting. With a touch of Pacific Rim (ie. omnipresent existential threat of massive leviathans). #booksky A quote I liked:

An photo of a section of text from The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett that reads: "What a tool cynicism is to the corrupt, claiming the whole of the creation is broken and fraudulent, and thus we are all excused to indulge in whatever sins we wish—for what's a little more unfairness, in this unfair world? Wise you were, Din, to shut your ears to it."

010

Brittany Vesterback @bvesterback.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

So excited to have been one of the winners of @readlocalbc.bsky.social and @thetyee.ca contest! My Indigenous Voices book box arrived today, and I can't wait to start reading. (Not enough space here, so check the image alt text for authors, titles, and publishers.)

An open box with three books and a postcard propped up inside. The books are (left to right) a body more tolerable by jaye simpson (Arsenal Pulp Press), ᑭᐢᑭᓱᒥᑐᐠ kiskisomitok by ᑳᐯᓵᑳᐢᑌᐠ reuben quinn (Talonbooks), and Decolonization and Me by Phyllis Webstad and Kristy McLeod (Medicine Wheel Publishing). The postcard says "Read Local BC" and features a collage of BC-themed vignettes.

031

Brittany Vesterback @bvesterback.bsky.social · 22/11/2025

I ordered it Tuesday and it's already here and looking beautiful! All profits go to UNICEF Gaza Appeal @naddcalendar.bsky.social

The 2026 fan calendar for Not Another D&D podcast!

010

Brittany Vesterback @bvesterback.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Finally starting The Book That Held Her Heart by @marklawrenceauthor.bsky.social #amreading #currentlyreading #booksky Also, reminder that Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is this Saturday, so visit your indies! #CIBD2025

A copy of The Book That Held Her Heart by Mark Lawrence. The cover features a raven in the foreground and staircases winding among bookshelves. A bookmark for Canadian Independent Bookstore Day on April 26, 2025 marks my place.

182

Brittany Vesterback @bvesterback.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Just picked up Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, ready to be hurt #amreading #currentlyreading #booksky

Cover of ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ by Suzanne Collins. A purple cover with a golden motif of a snake and a mockingjay facing each other over spikes. Also, part of my leg and my dog’s red blanket.

3221

Brittany Vesterback @bvesterback.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

One of the starkest and most revealing quotes, for me, from Slaughterhouse Five

America is the wealthiest nation on Earth, but its people are mainly poor, and poor Americans are urged to hate themselves. To quote the American humorist Kin Hubbard, 'It ain’t no disgrace to be poor, but it might as well be.' It is in fact a crime for an American to be poor, even though America is a nation of poor. Every other nation has folk traditions of men who were poor but extremely wise and virtuous, and therefore more estimable than anyone with power and gold. No such tales are told by the American poor. They mock themselves and glorify their betters. The meanest eating or drinking establishment, owned by a man who is himself poor, is very likely to have a sign on its wall asking this cruel question: 'if you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?' There will also be an American flag no larger than a child’s hand – glued to a lollipop stick and flying from the cash register.

Americans, like human beings everywhere, believe many things that are obviously untrue. Their most destructive untruth is that it is very easy for any American to make money. They will not acknowledge how in fact hard money is to come by, and, therefore, those who have no money blame and blame and blame themselves. This inward blame has been a treasure for the rich and powerful, who have had to do less for their poor, publicly and privately, than any other ruling class since, say Napoleonic times. Many novelties have come from America. The most startling of these, a thing without precedent, is a mass of undignified poor. They do not love one another because they do not love themselves.

050

Brittany Vesterback @bvesterback.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Another year in the last week, another picture of my dog

A black dog with snow stuck in her fur stands on a snowy doorstep waiting to come inside. Not pictured: me trying to grab a towel to get the little snowballs off her paws before she can sneak past me.

010

Brittany Vesterback @bvesterback.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Just started but am already enjoying @annaleen.bsky.social‘s The Terraformers. Not sure yet if #amreading is much of a thing on #booksky but since I’m here I may as well share :) (re-post because I forgot alt-text)

The cover of The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz. The title is written vertically over a tower that sits in front of a horizon at Dawn or dusk, beside a body of water. The author’s name and a blurb by N.K. Jemisin sits to the left. Beside the book is a bookmark from the bookseller, Black Bond Books.

3111

Brittany Vesterback @bvesterback.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Sunday is for making enough spaghetti sauce to freeze into seven full meals with leftovers

From the bottom left corner to the top right corner: three spatulas, a wok on the stove with ground beef going through another reduction, a red kettle, a bowls for more spoons, and a slow cooker. Assorted unrelated kitchen detritus clutters the space behind.

010

Brittany Vesterback @bvesterback.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

It’s been a long week, here’s a picture of my dog

A small black dog with curly fur who thinks she should get people food and is mistaken

010

Brittany Vesterback @bvesterback.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 💙📚 #BookSky #BookChallenge #Books #dnd Day 20: Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter