#Brian Douglas Wells

[my-ass-as-cold-as-mars]

Listening to a true crime podcast and the father of a violent and mentally ill woman described her mind as

"a little bit goofed up"

...she strapped a bomb to a man...so he could rob a bank...so she could hire a hit man...to kill her millionaire daddy (YOU)

But yeah, just a bit goofed up 🥸 amazing description I love it

[neil-gaiman]

Hi, Neil! You've mentioned that Brian May was initially reluctant to give you permission to use Queen's music in the miniseries (because of competition with the Bohemian Rhapsody film, I think?) but I don't remember you ever telling us why he finally relented. Unless it involves a secret phrase not unlike why the sheep finally obeyed Babe the pig, how did you get him to change his mind?

He wouldn't let us use Queen when we did the BBC Radio 4 adaptation. He was concerned that people might think that Queen was being made fun of, or that Queen was being seen as something old-fashioned or something. For Good Omens the TV show I wrote him a letter, which said...

Dear Brian

Terry Pratchett and I had a private joke, back in the 80s, that any cassette in your car would eventually turn into Queen's Greatest Hits. We put the joke into our cowritten novel GOOD OMENS, and wove a certain amount of Queen magic through the book. Done because, pretty obviously, we love Queen. The book went on to sell enormous numbers over the years, and whenever two Good Omens fans got together, they would talk about Queen.

I know that when Dirk Maggs approached you when he did the Radio 4 adaptation of GOOD OMENS, you were wary about getting involved, due to concerns about, well cassettes, and the possibility of it positioning Queen in people's minds as something old fashioned or silly.

Which, I thought, when Dirk told me about it, was fair enough.

I've now spent the better part of the last four years writing scripts for, and shooting, a TV adaptation of GOOD OMENS. It stars Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Miranda Richardson, Adria Arjana, Michael McKean, Derek Jacobi, Jon Hamm, Nick Offerman, and lots of other amazing people, and it will be narrated by Frances McDormand. It is directed by Emmy-award-winning Douglas Mackinnon. 

Douglas loves Queen. I love Queen. David Arnold loves Queen.

And the millions upon millions of Good Omens fans around the world love Queen too. So we have put various moments in there just for them (including a brass band playing "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon"). We want Queen music to comment on the action.

The show will come out from Amazon, and then from the BBC, next year. This year we are in post-production.

We'd love to show you some of what we've got. We'd love to pick your brains and to get your take on what we're doing. To find out if there's a way we can include you, or just brief you on what we've planned so far.

And Brian cheerfully apologised for having said no before, and said yes.

(Queen didn't want us to use the song Bohemian Rhapsody initially, because of concerns about the movie, but after a while they were happy even with that.)

[birdfrenchforbird]

2025 book bingo tbr

i'm gonna be following the 2025 book bingo created by the magnanimous @batmanisagatewaydrug and i have just completed (to the extent i can today) my tbr! (this has also inspired me into making a list of 25 things i need to do 25 times throughout 2025... so if there's one thing i will be next year, it is occupied). i drew from books that i own/my roommate owns as much as possible.

Literary Fiction: Luster by Raven Leilani (which has been on my libby holds list since mackenzie last recommended it. abt 20 weeks to go).

2. Short Story Collection: Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur (advanced reader's copy i got for free from my college's book club)

3. A Sequel: A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon

4. Childhood Favorite: The Sword of Darrow by Alex and Hal Malchow or Heidi by Johanna Spyri or something i find when i am home for the holidays that calls my soul more than these two

5. 20th Century Speculative Fiction: The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkein (because TECHNICALLY it counts)

6. Fantasy: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (one of the few remaining Book of the Month editions i still own)

7. Published Before 1950: Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters, published in 1915

8. Independent Publisher: I Love Information by Courtney Bush, published by Milkweed Editions (will need to either get over my fear of going to the library in person to set up my online account and put a hold on this OR purchase a copy)

9. Graphic Novel/Comic Book/Manga: Fun Home by Allison Bechdel or Saga by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Fiona Staples, have not decided (both owned by my roommate)

10. Animal on the Cover: Diminished Capacity by Sherwood Kiraly (he was my playwriting/fiction professor and gave me my copy of the novel)

11. Set in a Country You Have Never Visited: Euphoria by Lily King, set in New Guinea (owned by my roommate)

12. Science Fiction: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

13. 2025 Debut Author: Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang, expected May 2025 (another physical hold or purchase situation)

14. Memoir: Reading With Patrick by Michelle Kuo (commencement speaker at my graduation!)

15. Read a Zine, Make a Zine: tbd! will probably be more than one!

16. Essay Collection: The Book of Difficult Fruit by Kate Lebo

17. 2024 Award Winner: How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair, NBCC Award for Autobiography (will borrow from libby, audiobook is also available)

18. Nonfiction: Learn Something New: I was paying more attention to the nonfiction part than the learn something new part and i do need to find a new book for this because originally i was gonna go with one of Caitlin Doughty's novels which, while lovely, are not something New To Me. i know i have a biography of Anna Freud somewhere so maybe i will dig that up? otherwise it might be a scroll-through-libby adventure

19. Social Justice & Activism: The Theater of War by Bryan Doerries (read a few chapters first year of undergrad but never the whole thing so technically it counts as a new book for me)

20. Romance Novel: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

21. Read and Make a Recipe: Jane Austen's Table by Robert Tuesley Anderson, specific recipe to be determined upon reading

22. Horror: Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews (owned and recommended by my roommate as a good option for me, because i do not do well with horror. respect the genre so much!! but my anxiety disorder)

23. Published in the Aughts: Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik (just got my thrift books copy a couple weeks ago. i am making myself SAVOR this series)

24. Historical Fiction: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

25. Bookseller or Librarian Recommendation: tbd upon getting over my fears and actually visiting my library in person! it's a five minute walk from my apartment i do not know what my problem is

[medievalandfantasymelee]

THE HOT MEDIEVAL & FANTASY MEN MELEE

FIRST ROUND: 49th Tilt

James Douglas, Outlaw King (2018) VS. Philip II, The Lion in Winter (1968)

Propaganda

James Douglas, Outlaw King (2018) Portrayed by: Aaron Taylor-Johnson Defeated Opponents: - King Richard IV [Brian Blessed], The Black Adder (1982)

*Cracks knuckles* *Rolls shoulders* *SCREAMS LIKE A MANIAC* just getting into the spirit of the character. "Mair fell than wes ony devill in hell." That is how poet John Barbour described James, “The Blak Dowglas” as he came to be known to the English. And Aaron Taylor-Johnson matched that energy 200% in this movie. This man is BAT CRAP LOONY TUNES. He’s feral. Berserkers wish they were as berserk as this crazy Scotsman. I personally find using a mail coif as a weapon to be very sexy. He’ll try to seduce your daughter and when you threaten to cut his balls of, he’ll kiss you full on the mouth and then go and flirt with your OTHER daughter. He just wants his family’s lands back, and by God he will get them, and he will be screaming DOUGLAS!!!!!!! all the way home. (Cont. below the cut)

Philip II, The Lion in Winter (1968) Portrayed by: Timothy Dalton Defeated Opponents: - “Man with Snake” [Barry John Clarke], Edward II (1991)

“I will forever and always have a crush on Timothy Dalton on this movie. Philip is definitely a side character in it, for sure, but it's still a great performance (especially considering it was Dalton's film debut!) and he's also so cute.”

Additional Propaganda Under the Cut

Additional Propaganda

For James Douglas:

"I submit also these choice quotes from this Pajiba article, because Roxana Hadidi put it better than I can. [“In Appreciation of Aaron Taylor Johnson Going Full Beastmode in Outlaw King”]:

… it’s Taylor-Johnson’s feral qualities that add verve to these action scenes; he’s the character the film relies on to clue us into the English’s cruelty. While the rest of the Scottish camp is eating and socializing, he’s practicing sword moves in the woods, preparing himself for whatever threat is coming their way. While Pine has to be the believable kingly figure, Taylor-Johnson is over here attacking dudes with their own chainmail and slitting throats in church on Palm Sunday (it’s so bloody and over the top and great). He takes back his family castle, throws the invading English soldiers down a well, and then invites the castle staff to eat the feast they had been forced to prepare for the invaders—and then he encourages them all to join him in supporting Robert the Bruce before burning his own castle down so the English can’t come back and claim it. […] [He] is the live wire the movie needs, not only to demonstrate how [Robert] sets himself apart while performing his royal role but also because the action scenes are so essential to telling this story effectively, to demonstrating the brutality and the bloodiness of this time.’

For King Philip II:

“I confess that I haven't actually watched The Lion in Winter, but I don't have to recognize that young Timmy Dalton is a total babe in it. Those eyes! That jawline! Real royals *wish* they were this hot.”

[fishenjoyer1]

I'm just starting to get into marine bio, and I found your blog today and I love it so much!! Do you have any recommendations of where I can learn stuff? (I hunger for fish knowledge)

It's always wonderful when someone else starts getting into marine bio, I'm honored to share resources!

Texts:

I personally learned a lot of what I now know from a series of textbooks I've picked up over the years, here some of my personal favorites!

Biological Oceanography An Introduction by Carol M. Lalli & Timothy R. Parsons: I personally found this textbook wonderful! Written very clearly and easy to understand, and contains summaries at the end of each chapter. Here is my favorite used&new book sellers results for this book. Here is the book on internet archive.

Marine Ecology: Processes, Systems, and Impacts by Michael J. Kaiser, Martin J. Attrill, & Simon Jennings: Covers much of the same things as biological oceanography, but valuable on its own. Here is the link to buy a copy for cheap. Here is the book on internet archive.

Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystems by Robert G. Wetzel: I personally found this the most dull textbook of my life, but, it is written very well. The chapters end with summaries also, which makes it easier to study, and this book is rather well renowned in freshwater studies. Here to buy a copy on my favorite book website. Here to read on internet archive (I'm relatively uncertain that its inaccessible) so Here is a preview on google books. (maybe I'll find the time to scan my copy and put it in a google drive)

The Diversity Of Fishes: Biology, Evolution, and Ecology by Douglas E. Facey, Brian W. Bowen, Bruce B. Collette, & Gene S. Helfman: I adore this textbook, it is easy to read and comprehend, a personal favorite. Not only that, it is wonderful for understanding fish. Here you can buy it (it's a bit pricey, so I recommend just using the internet archive). Here you can find it on internet archive.

Methods for Fish Biology by Stephen Midway, Caleb Hasler, and Prosanta Chakrabarty: A bit dense and hard to read, but it's a wonderful text on understanding how to do research, and how a lot of farming and understanding of fish is done. Here to buy it. Here to read it on internet archive

All the other textbooks I own are about marine mammals, so I'll recommend them if asked, but you seem more interested in fish and aquatic environments.

Audio:

I personally struggle to listen to informational audio and podcasts, so this section is a bit threadbare

The Marine Mammal Science podcoast by The Society for Marine Mammalogy here

Marine Biology in 5 minutes podcast here

Oceanlovers podcast here

The Deep-Sea Podcast here

Video:

I have some great recommendations I'm a personal fan of here!

I personally really enjoy Natural World Facts, he has some wonderful playlists and documentaries on the deep sea, different environments, animals, and ecosystems there.

MBARI (the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) Has wonderful videos with their discoveries and research,

The Nautilus live, which does frequent live streams as they're exploring the ocean with ROVs and a running commentary from the staff!

The octopus lady does some good work, I haven't watched the most of her but she's relatively fun to put in the background to just generally learn about things marine

I also enjoy the work of AVNJ Fish Biologist, who does a lot less serious scientific videos, but he also has a video series on ichthyology I'm fond of so, check that out here!

Other:

when doing fish of the day, some sources have continually come back again and again, I'll list these off first.

Wikipedia: I personally find the wikipedia is a good resource, but it never gives the full picture when your trying to learn. Do not base your knowledge only on wikipedia, i recommend trying to read through some of the sources that wikipedia has listed on a topic, and if you are new to a subject I suggest trying to find introductory textbook before plunging in head first. I find that wikipedia is wonderful at convincing you that you know what its talking about, as it's very easy to just read without knowing the definition for a small handful of words. But, you will quickly come to realize at some point or another that you understood less than you think. As much as it is a wonderful tool, don't use it exclusive well learning

WoRMS- World Registrar of Marine Species has basic info and distinguishes between species, along with some good research, I'd recommend checking them out!

Fishbase! contains good information on most fish

.gov websites, and websites that align with governments across the world can be trusted for fish purposes mostly, the NOAA is a great resource for learning and searching info on animals, as is the Monterey Bay Aquarium

If you're looking to find a scientific paper, I recommend searching on google scholar, as it will show you which you can access the pdf of without paying.

And, if your looking to come into contact with papers you just cant seem to find the pdf of, I would recommend Scihub other than scihub, you can also look for any number of things locked behind a paywall with this niffty website I found ! A lot of resources there.

That's everything I can think of! Have a good time learning ! :)

[quasi-normalcy]

A while ago while I was in tumblr jail, you posted that you had a masters in science fiction literature (unless you didn't, I have been known to be mistaken), and I am wondering, what do you consider 'important' works of science fiction? Like the science fiction literary canon? I am so curious. Feel free to ignore, I will not harass you.

Yes! I do. I can tell you the ones that I was assigned (I'm afraid that the list skews extremely male and (especially) white).

Mary Shelley, Frankenstein (1818)

Olaf Stapledon, Last and First Men (1930) and Star Maker (1937) [You can probably add Odd John (1935) to this list]

Jules Verne, Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1864) and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1870) [You can probably add From the Earth to the Moon (1865)]

H.G. Wells, The Time Machine (1895) and War of the Worlds (1897) [Though you can probably go ahead and add The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897) and The First Men in the Moon (1901)]

Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Herland (1915)

Catherine Burdekin (writing as Murray Constantine), Swastika Night (1937)

Karel Čapek, R.U.R. (1920)

Isaac Asimov, I, Robot (1950) [You can probably add the first three Foundation novels here as well]

Yevgeny Zamyatin, We (1921)

George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949)

Arthur C. Clarke, 2001: A Space Odyssey (1967) and Rendezvous with Rama (1973) [Add: Childhood's End (1953) and The Fountains of Paradise (1979)

John Wyndham, Day of the Triffids (1951) [add: The Chrysalids (1955) and The Midwich Cuckoos (1957)]

H.P. Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu" (1926) [add The Shadow over Innsmouth (1931)]

Richard Matheson, I Am Legend (1954)

Alfred Bester, The Stars My Destination (1956)

Robert Heinlein, Starship Troopers (1959) [Probably Stranger in a Strange Land (1961) and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (1966) too, depending on, you know, how much of Heinlein's bullshit you can take]

J.G. Ballard, The Drowned World (1962) [Also, The Burning World (1964) and The Crystal World (1966)]

Phillip K. Dick, The Man in the High Castle (1962) [Also Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968) and several of his short stories]

Frank Herbert, Dune (1965)

Michael Moorcock, Behold the Man (1969)

Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-5 (1969)

Ursula Le Guin, The Dispossessed (1974) [Also The Lathe of Heaven (1971) and The Left Hand of Darkness (1969)]

Brian Aldiss, Supertoys series

William Gibson, Neuromancer (1984)

Kim Stanley Robinson, Red Mars (1992) [Also Green Mars and Blue Mars]

They also included Iain M. Banks's The Algebraist (2004), but I personally think you'd be better off reading some of his Culture novels

Other ones that I might add (not necessarily my favourite, just what I would consider the most influential):

Joe Haldeman, The Forever War (1974)

Matsamune Shiro, Ghost in the Shell (1989-91)

Katsuhiro Otomo, Akira (1982-1990)

Octavia Butler, Lilith's Brood (1987-89) and Parable of the Sower (1993)

Poul Anderson, Operation Chaos (1971)

Hector Garman Oesterheld & Francisco Solano Lopez, The Eternaut (1957-59)

Liu Cixin, The Three-Body Problem (2008)

Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, The Illuminatus! Trilogy (1975)

William Hope Hodgson, The House on the Borderland (1908)

Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash (1992)

Joanna Russ, The Female Man (1975)

Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game (1985) [Please take this one from a library]

Edgar Rice Burroughs, A Princess of Mars (1912)

Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale (1985) and Oryx and Crake (2003)

Aldous Huxley, Brave New World (1932)

Osamu Tezuka, Astro Boy (1952-68)

Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451 (1953)

Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time (1962)

Walter M. Miller, A Canticle for Leibowitz (1959)

Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979)

[stinkybrowndogs]

On the last audiobook on my current to read list, and i am looking for more recs!

Here is what ive read and enjoyed this last several months:

Fiction

- Adrian Tchaikovsky's Children of Time series and dogs of war

- project hail mary and the martian by andy weir (finally read them... space books of all time)

- a short walk through a wide world by douglas westerbeke

- recurssion and dark matter by blake crouch (situations so fucked up its entertaining)

- the very secret society of irregular witches by sangu mandanna (very sweet similar vibes to house on the cerulean sea)

- martha wells murderbot series

- the pull of the stars by emma donoghue

- station Eleven by emily st john mandel (altered my brain chemestry)

- remarkably bright creatures by shelby van pelt (i loved this one. It was so sweet and funky)

- basically all of T.J. Klune and T. Kingfishers works

- becky chambers monk and robot series

Nonfiction

-just mercy by brian stevenson

- empire of pain by patrick radden keefe

- every tools a hammer by adam savage (highly reccomend for practical creative advice)

- jesus and john wayne by kristen kobes du mez

- braiding sweetgrass by robin wall kimmerer

- hood feminism by mikki kendall

- im glad my mom died by jeanette mcCurdy

Theres more im happy to share but these were my faves and any book suggestions are welcome!

I have a few that i cant get as audiobooks from libby, so they r on my waitlist for when i have $

My current wishlist:

-breathing fire by jaime lowe

- the rise and fall of dinosaurs by steve brusatte (also the rise and reign of mammals)

- the quiet damage by jesselyn cook

- everyone in this room will someday be dead by emily austin

- paleofantasy by marlene zuk

- finna by nino cipri

- star splitter by matthew j kirby

Anyway. Books.

[renee-writer]

Frank Chapter 102

AO3

“It is how it is supposed to be,” he lets out a sigh, “as much as your mama and I hate to see you go.”

 

“I know da. I will miss you all badly. “ Jemmy replies.

 

He has grown into a man, a man who’s dreams lay across the ocean in the colonies. They knew this would happen, still to see their eldest prepare to go so far away is tough.

 

Ten year old, Henry Brian clings tight to his eldest brother. “Must you go?”

 

He kneels down a bit to meet his eyes. “Aye, little man. I will write you every week.”

 

“It isn’t the same.”

 

“Fergus will still be here.”

 

He pulls a face. “Until he gets married. Then I will just be left with the lasses.”

 

“Hey now!” Faith calls out. She shares a look with Arabella.

 

Arabella hugs her baby brother next to her side.  “Fergus won’t be getting married anytime soon. Besides Arthur Douglas and Bethany are having a lad. Auntie Geillis says so. You will have a wee lad to guide.”

 

Claire smiles at her youngest.  She is so proud of the lady her baby girl is becoming. She has worked with her and Geillis since right after Simon started walking again. Not only does she have  gift of healing but of empathy as well.

 

“It is important that your brother follows his dreams,”  she tells Henry Brian and herself, “you know that.”

 

They have been discussing this for the last six months. It wasn’t a surprise.

 

“I do,” He looks over at Jemmy, “I will write you too brother.”

[dastiel4ever2111]

Okay so next up is the Pillman-Luger-Lynn boys. Again this one has a LOT of background information. Just an FYI this post will include triggering subjects such as child abuse, child neglect, and parents favoring one child over the rest. Lex Luger and Brian Pillman together in the top left corner, Dalton Castle, Briley Ryan Pierce, Zicky Dice, Pillman Jr., Kenny Omega, Brian and Steve on the bottom left, Joey Janela, and finally Nicholas Dolph Ziggler.

Nicholas Dolph Theodore 'Ziggler' Pillman-Luger is the oldest sibling. He is the golden child in the eyes of Luger. No other child could ever come close to comparing to Dolph. Luger couldn't really say no when Pillman said he wanted to have more kids, he really did love his tag team partner. Dolph was given pretty much everything as a kid, beyond spoiled, Luger couldn't say no to him. Pillman for as long as he was alive was a much more well rounded parent. Dolph certainly has a complicated relationship with his Dad. You'll find out why soon enough.

Kenneth Tyson Omega Callis-Luger-Pillman was born 3 years after Dolph. Brian was smart enough to know that Luger wasn't ready for another child, at least not yet. So, he did was he thought was best and gave him up for adoption, moreso left Kenny at a church. Don Callis and Golden Sheik then adopted him. Kenny found his bio family around the time of the first All In pay-per-view. I have a chapter posted about the moment :D I'll link it here in case you want to read it.

Nick ‘Zicky’ Dice Luger-Solomita, his half brother is Julien Solomita (I mean don't tell me there isn't at least some resemblance?) he was raised by his mother with Julien. He isn't close to the other brothers mainly just keeps to himself. Once he found out who his Dad was he decided he didn't want anything to do with him or the rest of the family.

Ryan Briley Pierce Luger-Pillman, he mainly goes by Briley in my stories. Briley was unfortunately ignored and neglected by Luger the first 3 years of his life. That is until Luger found a gifted school in California to take Briley in. It just so happens that the gifted school was ran by the Young Buck's family. So, Briley is extremely close to them. Briley didn't return to the Luger residence until Dolph practically begged his father to allow him to visit and be a part of the family again.

Dalton Castle Luger-Pillman-Laurinaitis was conceived during a very hard time for both Pillman and Luger. Luger was fully in his addiction. He randomly brought Dalton backstage at WCW and started to ask the locker room to buy him. He was so high he really didn't know what he was doing or even where he was. That's when Cornette got involved and decided to bring Dalton home to Shane Douglas and Johnny Ace. Cornette did not end up adopting Dalton, he let Shane and Johnny do that. Cornette was adamant that Dalton not know who his biological family was. He found out around the same time as Kenny who his bio family was.

Joey Janela Lynn-Luger is not related to Pillman. His other father is Jerry Lynn. Jerry didn't know he existed for the first 6 years of Joey's life. Luger decided to give it another go and kept Joey and raised him himself. It did not go well. At about 2 Luger started to abuse Joey, it started off mild but soon became full on abuse. Whenever anything was not going Luger's way he would take it out on Joey. Dolph tried his best to protect Joey because he knew he could. Luger would never get violent with Dolph but with the age difference between them and the fact that Dolph had gotten a full ride to go to school he left. Briley also did his best to help Joey getting him out of the house as much as he could. Jerry found out about the abuse when Joey was 14 and after that Joey was only allowed to see Luger for the summer. Joey has struggled with the abuse and the environment of the household he was raised in. The last two years he was with Luger were different because the abuse stopped after a pretty bad incident. Luger changed completely and became an actual Dad to Joey. I have a chapter of Growing Up based around Janela telling Jerry Lynn about the abuse. I'll link it below.

Brian Pillman Jr. is Steve Austin's and Brian Pillman's son. Steve kept Jr away from Luger as much as possible. Jr wanted to know his half brothers more though, so he decided to meet up with them as much as he could. Dolph having the most time with Pillman told Jr as much as he could about their Dad.

Even though the Luger-Pillman boys didn't grow up together, they are extremely close to each other. They lean on each other and make sure everyone is okay and healthy. I wouldn't say there is a favorite but Briley and Joey are especially protected by their siblings. Dolph has a very different view of Luger than the rest because he saw the best of him. He'll always love his Dad even after everything he's done. Joey also has a complex relationship with Luger, he still calls him Dad even after all of the abuse he's endured. Dolph is obviously the oldest of the siblings but Kenny tries to help as much as he can. Kenny knows that it must have been hard for Dolph growing up.

i would say that this family is one of my favorite things to write because I adore so many of them. I mean, Janela, Ziggler, Briley, and Dalton are some of my favorite wrestlers of all time!

[pikespendragon67]

With a Resounding "Yes", It's Time for Paranormasight VA Headcanons!

I'm going to be an oddball and switch between Japanese & English VAs when I find it relevant. Also my order's gonna be based on how strongly I think the headcanon works. I'll also try to provide examples for the angle I'm going for

let's a go

Tetsuo Tsutsumi Japanese: Option 1 - Akio Otsuka (Executioner from Akudama Drive). Option 2 - Jouji Nakata (Osvald from Octopath Traveler 2) English: Option 1 - Jamieson Price (Malik Caesar from Tales of Graces F). Option 2 - Jason Douglas (Kishibe from Chainsaw Man)

Middle aged men characters are my specialty so really it depends on the delivery you want. Richard Epcar (Ace from 999) could also work for English as well as Bill Butts (Ciocolotta from Jojo part 5)

Makoto Ashimiya/Fumichika Nejima Japanese: Kenjiro Tsuda (Ogata from Golden Kamuy...and also Kishibe from Chainsaw Man). Katsuyuki Konishi could also be a good example but I can't really think of an old man character. I guess Takehito Koyasu could also work? But like this is THE most TsudaKen looking motherfucker I've ever seen English: Joe J. Thomas (Nobunaga Hazama from Hunter x Hunter). His "So I did" line really cemented this casting choice tbh.

Richter Kai Japanese: Shiniciro Miki (Kisuke Urahara from Bleach) English: For this, it depends again on the delivery you want. I originally wanted Doug Erholz (maybe not like Vega from Street Fighter), but upon closer inspection, Ray Chase (Uzui Tengen from Demon Slayer) might be a better pick.

Harue Shigima English: Laura Post (Empress from A Hat in Time) Japanese: Kikuko Inoue (Rhea from Fire Emblem Three Houses)

It just works, it just works~

Shogo Okiie English: Chris Hackney (Yuito from Scarlet Nexus) Japanese: Tatsuhisa Suzuki (Noctis from Final Fantasy 15)

Standard older protagonist

Jun Erio Japanese: Kaito Ishikawa (Noe from Case Study of Vanitas or Iida from My Hero Academia) English: Griffin Burns (Doppio from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure). Zeno Robinson (Akira from Zom 100) would also work great!

An excitable character that I think can work great with the right delivery.

Takumi Yumioka Japanese: Toshiyuki Morikawa (Yoshikage Kira from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure) English: Ben Lepley (Gouto from 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim)

I feel like a flat delivery that still has an air of intimidation would work best for him.

Mayu Chozawa English: Option 1 - Tara Sands (Sonya from Fire Emblem Echoes); Option 2 - Cristina Vee (Velvet from Tales of Berseria). Amanda C. Miller (Sailor Jupiter from Sailor Moon) is also a good pick along with Heather Gonzalez (Cherche from Fire Emblem Heroes) Japanese: Miyuki Sawashiro (Kyoko Honda from Fruits Basket). Nana Mizuki could also work, though I sadly can't think of a role off the top of my head

Going for the woman who grew up a punk vibe

Yutaro Namigaki Japanese: Jun Fukuyama (Draluc from Vampire Dies in No Time) English: It's tempting to put Xander Mobus for the total Joker Persona 5 duology but ehhhhh. It depends on the delivery again. Brian Beacock (Luthier from Fire Emblem Echoes) or Steve Staley (Hubert from Tales of Graces F) could also work tbh. Maybe Lucien Dodge (Waver Velvet from Fate/Zero)

Ayame Touno English: Faye Mata (Amame from AI: The Somnium Files) Japanese: Rie Kugimiya (Rise from Persona 4)

The voices contrast each other, but I think each one compliments the kind of character Ayame is.

Storyteller Japanese: Hochu Otsuka (Tsurumi from Golden Kamuy) English: TBD

Here's where I'm starting to think about 1 solid casting and kinda improvising for the second one. I think the Storyteller changes voices depending on the mask they wear, so for this old man mask, an old man they shall sound like.

Michiyo Shiraishi English: Xanthe Huynh (Marianne from Fire Emblem Three Houses) Japanese: Aya Endo (Miyuki from Lucky Star)

Few lines for such a sweet gal

Yakko Sakazaki English: Abby Trott (Older Annette from Fire Emblem Three Houses). For some reason I also pictured Cassandra Lee Morris (Tomi Kisaragi from 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim) Japanese: Marina Inoue (Female Protagonist from Persona 3 Portable)

Spunky young lady, ain't she?

Mio Kurosuzu English: Amber Connor (Faye from Fire Emblem Echoes) Japanese: Rie Murakawa (Est from Fire Emblem Echoes)

Young but calm & sweet

Yoko Fukunaga English: Cherami Leigh (Patty from Soul Eater) Japanese: Saori Hayami (Yor from Spy x Family)

Not related to casting but I think she and Ayame would be weird girl besties and I love that for them

Hideiki Araishi English: Patrick Seitz (there's a specific role in mind that sounds similar to Mama from AI: The Somnium Files but naaah that doesn't sound right) Japanese: Tomokazu Sugita (sadly can't think of a role off the top of my head)

He's a bit of a snob so something a bit arrogant works best

Kohei Jounichi Japanese: Here's where I think Katsuyki Konishi would fit best (Koito from Golden Kamuy comes to mind, oddly). Makoto Furukawa (why did I think Ronaldo from Vampire Dies in No Time??) could also work English: I think this will depend on the delivery. Do you want him more cowardly? I kinda see David Vincent tbh (Henri from Iruma-kun)

Hajime Yoshimi English: He could be another potential Patrick Seitz role, but I want to avoid double casting as much as possible. Japanese: Subaru Kimura (Todo from Jujutsu Kaisen)

Hitomi Okuda Japanese: Ai Farouz (Jolyne Kujo from JJBA) English: Option 1 - Laura Stahl (Alear from Fire Emblem Engage); Option 2 - Erica Mendez (can't think of a role off the top of my head)

Once again going for toughness, but from a younger angle

aaaand I think that's all the voiced characters! Some roles I had to think up of on the spot, so I might come back and revisit this, but I'm open for suggestions as well!

[blowflyfag]

RINGSIDE WRESTLING : JANUARY 1997

ECW tag mayhem!

GORDY & DREAMER VS ELIMINATORS

By George Napolitano 

[The ECW tag team of Terry Gordy and Tommy Dreamer was in the mood for a little EXTREME violence. Well, they had come to the ring place and they had signed to fight the right opponents (The Eliminators)!]

Tommy Dreamer has had quite a few problems since joining ECW, but most of his troubles had stemmed from the fact that he was a longer and had no one to help him in time of need. Sure he’s managed to spend time with both Beulah and Kimona Wanalaya, but when it was time to fight his battles inside the ring Tommy had no one to watch his back. Now however, Tommy shouldn’t have a fear in the world as he has two of the roughest, toughest, meanest men in the sport in his corner: “Dr. Death” Steve Williams and former Freebird, Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy. With Williams and Gordy around, the Eliminators, Brian Lee and everyone else in ECW better be very careful. 

[Power-bomb–Gordy-style!]

[Gordy uses his brute strength to topple his foe.]

[Naturally, there were chair shots outside the ring.]

“I’ve only been in ECW for a while but I see that there are quite a few men around here who think that they are really tough,” said Williams. “Well, where I come from you have to make your reputation inside the ring. You can talk big and bad, but you better be able to back it up in the ring. Right now, me and Bam Bam are here to help Tommy Dreamer in his battles with the Eliminators and Brian Lee. Once we straighten that out we are going after Raven and his crew. I’ve been watching this Raven ever since I got here and he really thinks he is something else. Well, he better not cross paths with me or Bam Bam or he’s going to have to pay a huge price.”

[Dreamer has that gagging feeling.]

“Tell him about Shane Douglas, too,” added Terry Gordy. 

“He’s another one who’s really stuck on himself.” said Steve Williams. “He struts around like he’s God’s gift or something and I’ve heard that he’s even said a few thing about us. Well he’s going to kiss that belt of his good-bye if he ever gets in our way!” 

For the past several years Williams and Gordy have not been seen in the States as they have concentrated all of their time and energy to wrestling in Japan. There they are two of the top stars in the Orient and they are constantly in demand. Now that the two stars are back in the States and wrestling in ECW, the knowledgeable East Coast fans are in for quite a treat.

“I’ve had a few different partners in my day, but none of them were ever quite as tough or possessed as much wrestling knowledge as Steve Williams and Terry Gordy.” said Tommy Dreamer. “They are simply phenomenal. I’ve learned more just being around them the last few weeks than I’ve ever learned in all the years I’ve been wrestling. Having Gordy and Williams around all I have to do now is concentrate on my opponent as I know that they will be there to watch my back if anyone tries to interfere.”

[Beulah McGillicuddy kept a close eye on Dreamer throughout the match.]

[Gordy uses his size and strength to his advantage.]

[Dreamer gets a face full o’ guard rail.]

It’s going to be interesting to see what happens in ECW now that Terry Gordy and Steve Williams have joined the ranks. Both are proven champions and , with them in the fold, the balance of power could very well change in the coming months. 

[Gordy goes for the pin, but Eliminator teamwork breaks it up.]

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Jesse Duquette :: @JRDuquette:: The US is a gun fetish cosplaying a country not overtaken by the death fantasies of inadequate men.

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

June 14, 2024

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

JUN 15, 2024

Today, former president Trump turned 78. For his birthday, Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) introduced a bill to name 4,383,000 square miles of the coastal waters off the United States over which the U.S. has sole authority, a region called the exclusive economic zone, the “Donald John Trump Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States.” 

A less welcome present was that the chief executive officers who attended a meeting with Trump in Washington yesterday told reporters they found him uninformed and unfocused. Christina Wilkie and Brian Schwartz of CNBC noted that the attendees dislike the Biden administration’s enforcement of antitrust laws, its price caps on drugs and medical products, and its promise of progressive tax policy and like Trump’s promise to slash regulations and cut taxes, so they went into the meeting hoping to support him.

One CEO left the meeting with the takeaway that “Trump doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” and several, Andrew Ross Sorkin of CNBC reported, said that he “was remarkably meandering, could not keep a straight thought [and] was all over the map.” He could not explain how he planned to accomplish any of the policies he was proposing. When asked why he had chosen a policy of bringing the corporate tax rate down to 20%, he allegedly answered: “Well, it’s a round number.” 

No one applauded Trump, attendees reported, in striking contrast to reports of the enthusiasm of Republican lawmakers yesterday. This difference underscores that Trump likely intended yesterday’s grandstanding to send a political message that Republican members of Congress support him despite his criminal convictions, while the lawmakers themselves were trying to show party unity at a time when they are bitterly divided. 

Also today, the Supreme Court handed down the Garland v. Cargill decision, which considered whether the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) correctly determined that a device that dramatically increases the speed at which a semiautomatic weapon fires bullets, called a bump stock, could be prohibited under the law, originally passed in 1934, that outlawed machine guns. 

By a 6–3 vote, the Supreme Court said the ATF did not make that decision correctly and that bump stocks were not banned under the law.

After the Parkland, Florida, shooting of February 14, 2018, when Nikolas Cruz killed 17 people and injured 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, then-president Trump told reporters that he had been studying the issue of gun safety. This was his first articulated policy on that issue, and although the Parkland shooter did not use a bump stock, Trump said he had told then–attorney general Jeff Sessions to write regulations to ban bump stocks in October of the previous year, after a gunman using them had fired up to 1,000 rounds of ammunition in 11 minutes, killing 58 people and wounding about 500—two died later—at a Las Vegas music festival. 

By the time the ATF finalized a new rule on December 18, 2018, Sessions was gone and it was Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker who announced that bump stocks would be classified as a “machinegun” under federal law. The rule went into effect on March 26, 2019. People who owned bump stocks had to get rid of them, either by destroying them or by taking them to an ATF office. The ATF estimated that about 520,000 bump stocks needed to be destroyed. 

A Texas gun store owner, Michael Cargill, handed over his two bump stocks under protest and then sued the ATF, saying it did not have the authority to reclassify bump stocks. 

Today, in a majority opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas, the Supreme Court dove deep into the mechanics of bump stocks to try to establish that they were not physically machine guns and that because of differences in the mechanical operations between true machine guns and bump stocks, the law did not prohibit bump stocks. ATF officials thus had no business defining bump stocks as they did in 2018, and those who want them can own them.

In a concurring opinion, Justice Samuel Alito wrote: “There is a simple remedy for the disparate treatment of bump stocks and machineguns. Congress can amend the law—and perhaps would have done so already if ATF had stuck with its earlier interpretation. Now that the situation is clear, Congress can act.” 

Indeed, if Congress truly reflected the will of the people, it would have acted on this issue years ago. A Pew poll from June 2023—when bump stocks were illegal—showed that 64% of Americans want assault-style weapons banned altogether, as they were between 1994 and 2004. But Republicans have increasingly fetishized guns as a symbol of individualism, and Republican senators have kept most gun safety legislation at bay by weaponizing the filibuster, which means that any legislation must have not simply a 51-vote majority to pass the Senate, but 60 votes.  

In other Supreme Court news, yesterday Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) released documents showing that Justice Thomas accepted at least three more trips from billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow than had previously been known. 

And in other news concerning our nation’s horrific history of mass shootings and the political meaning of guns, today a federal judge ordered the liquidation of the personal assets of conspiracy theorist and InfoWars host Alex Jones to begin the payment he owes to the families of those murdered at Sandy Hook. For years, Jones told his followers that the shooting was a hoax to encourage restrictions on gun ownership, prompting harassment of the victims’ families. 

A jury in Texas and a jury in Connecticut awarded the families $1.5 billion in damages for defamation; Jones owns about $9 million of personal assets but will keep his $2.8 million home in Texas. The judge threw out an attempted reorganization of Jones’s company, Free Speech Systems, saying Jones’s creditors would recover more money in state courts. The families have sued Jones for hiding millions of dollars in assets. 

Reacting to the news of the Supreme Court’s decision in Garland v. Cargill, gun safety advocate David Hogg, who survived the Parkland shooting, wrote: “Ah yes because who doesn’t need the ability to freely turn a semiautomatic AR-15 into what in effect is a machine gun. This is f*cking insane.”

“We know thoughts and prayers are not enough,” President Biden said in his own statement about the Supreme Court’s decision, referring to the usual response of Republicans after a mass shooting. “I call on Congress to ban bump stocks, pass an assault weapon ban, and take additional action to save lives—send me a bill and I will sign it immediately.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[medievalandfantasymelee]

THE HOT MEDIEVAL & FANTASY MEN MELEE

QUALIFYING ROUND: 116th Tilt

James Douglas, Outlaw King (2018) VS. King Richard IV Plantagenet, The Black Adder (1982)

Propaganda

James Douglas, Outlaw King (2018) Portrayed by: Aaron Taylor-Johnson

*Cracks knuckles* *Rolls shoulders* *SCREAMS LIKE A MANIAC* just getting into the spirit of the character. "Mair fell than wes ony devill in hell." That is how poet John Barbour described James, “The Blak Dowglas” as he came to be known to the English. And Aaron Taylor-Johnson matched that energy 200% in this movie. This man is BAT CRAP LOONY TUNES. He’s feral. Berserkers wish they were as berserk as this crazy Scotsman. I personally find using a mail coif as a weapon to be very sexy. He’ll try to seduce your daughter and when you threaten to cut his balls of, he’ll kiss you full on the mouth and then go and flirt with your OTHER daughter. He just wants his family’s lands back, and by God he will get them, and he will be screaming DOUGLAS!!!!!!! all the way home. (Cont. below the cut)

King Richard IV, The Black Adder (1982) Portrayed by: Brian Blessed

"His voice. Omg his voice. It makes me think I could be attracted to men."

Additional Propaganda Under the Cut

Additional Propaganda

For James Douglas:

"I submit also these choice quotes from this Pajiba article, because Roxana Hadidi put it better than I can. [“In Appreciation of Aaron Taylor Johnson Going Full Beastmode in Outlaw King”]:

… it’s Taylor-Johnson’s feral qualities that add verve to these action scenes; he’s the character the film relies on to clue us into the English’s cruelty. While the rest of the Scottish camp is eating and socializing, he’s practicing sword moves in the woods, preparing himself for whatever threat is coming their way. While Pine has to be the believable kingly figure, Taylor-Johnson is over here attacking dudes with their own chainmail and slitting throats in church on Palm Sunday (it’s so bloody and over the top and great). He takes back his family castle, throws the invading English soldiers down a well, and then invites the castle staff to eat the feast they had been forced to prepare for the invaders—and then he encourages them all to join him in supporting Robert the Bruce before burning his own castle down so the English can’t come back and claim it. […] [He] is the live wire the movie needs, not only to demonstrate how [Robert] sets himself apart while performing his royal role but also because the action scenes are so essential to telling this story effectively, to demonstrating the brutality and the bloodiness of this time.’

For Richard IV:

[workersolidarity]

🇺🇸 🎙️ 🚨

BRIAN BERLECTIC COVERS NAZIS IN UKRAINE, WESTERN MEDIA SLANDER AND THE FALL OF THE CITY OF AVDIIVKA

🔗 Brian Berletic over at the New Atlas covers the fall of Avdiivka, a northwestern suburb of Donetsk City.

Brian then uses Western mainstream media sources to rebuff accusations that he's part of a cabal of "Russian propagandists" as asserted by Vox News is their latest article and graphic slandering anti-Ukraine War academics and journalists including Larry Johnson, Jimmy Dore, John Meirshiemer, Ray McGovern, Jeffery Sachs, Max Blumenthal, Colonel Douglas MacGregor, UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter, as well journalists Pepe Escobar, Tucker Carlson, Glenn Greenwald and Wyatt Reed, and many others, of being Pro-Putin propagandists and insisting that there really isn''t actually a Nazi problem in Ukraine.

@WorkerSolidarityNews

[dear-indies]

What are some of your favourite underused fcs?

CracKs KnuCKles

I have a directory HERE of people I think are underused and underappreciated with resources but here are some of my favourites, please let me know if you want a certain age range or something because I could have easily added another 100 more.

Lily Tomlin (1939) - is a lesbian.

Ming-Na Wen (1963) Macanese / Chinese Malaysian.

Peter Dinklage (1969) - has achondroplasia.

Jack Black (1969) Ashkenazi Jewish / German, as well as Northern Irish, Scottish, English, remote French and Welsh (converted to Judaism).

Don Lee (1971) Korean.

Christina Applegate (1971) - has multiple sclerosis.

Sara Ramírez (1975) Mexican and some Irish - non-binary (they/them) and queer.

Dominique Jackson (1975) Afro-Tobagonian - is trans.

Vinny Chhibber (1980) Indian.

Chrissy Metz (1980)

Beth Ditto (1981) - is queer.

Jana Schmieding (1981) Miniconjou Lakota Sioux, Sicangu Oyate Lakota Sioux.

Brian Tyree Henry (1982) African-American.

Utkarsh Ambudkar (1983) Marathi Indian / Tamil Indian.

Levy Tran (1983) Vietnamese.

Michael Malarkey (1983) Palestinian, Italian-Maltese / Irish, German.

Gabourey Sidibe (1983) Senegalese / African-American.

Heather White (1983) Mohawk / Nakoda Sioux.

Bobby Wilson (1984) Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Dakota Sioux.

Brian Michael Smith (1984) African-American - is trans.

Savannah Welch (1984) - is paraplegic.

Ryan O'Connell (1986) - is gay and has cerebral palsy.

Nicole Byer (1986) African American - had said that she “doesn’t identify as straight” but is uncomfortable with labels.

May Calamawy (1986) Jordanian, Palestinian / Egyptian.

Michaela Coel (1987) Ghanaian - is romantic.

Aidy Bryant (1987)

Jay Hayden (1987) Irish, English, Scottish / Korean.

Mamoudou Athie (1988) Mauritanian.

Ritu Arya (1988) Indian.

Sharon Rooney (1988)

Anna Diop (1988) Sundanese.

Laith Ashley (1989) Afro Dominican - is trans and asexual.

Jessica Kellgren-Fozard (1989) has hypermobile EDS with marfanoid phenotype causing blindness in one eye and deafness - is a lesbian.

Daniel Kaluuya (1989) Ugandan.

JuJu Chan (1989) Hongkonger.

Danielle Brooks (1989) - has openly dated men and women but has chosen not to label her sexuality publicly.

Harvey Guillén (1990) Mexican - is queer.

Eric Graise (1990) African-American - is a bilateral amputee.

Nathaniel Curtis (1990) Indian / English - is queer.

Kiowa Gordon (1990) Hualapai, English, Scottish, Danish, Manx.

Daniel Ezra (1991) Afro Jamaican.

Sofiya Cheyenne (1991) Taino, Dominican, Syrian, and Italian - has Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita.

Alexander Hodge (1991) Chinese Singaporean / Irish.

Sarah Kameela Impey (1991) Indo-Guyanese / British.

Vico Ortiz (1991) Puerto Rican - non-binary (they/them).

John Boyega (1992) Yoruba Nigerian.

Jake Choi (1992) Korean - sexually fluid.

Theo Germaine (1992) - non-binary (he/they).

Tyler James Williams (1992) African-American.

RJ Mitte (1992) - has cerebral palsy.

Lily Mae Harrington (1993)

Beanie Feldstein (1993) Ashkenazi Jewish - chosen not to label her sexuality but is openly dating a woman.

Omari Douglas (1994) Nigerian - is gay.

Emmett Preciado (1994) Mexican and White - is trans.

Kofi Siriboe (1994) Ghanaian.

Coty Camacho (1995) Mixtec and Zapotec - is pansexual.

Rish Shah (1995) Indian.

Angel Bismark Curiel (1995) Taino, Afro Dominican, Spanish - has asthma and a heart murmur.

Lauren “Lolo” Spencer (1996) African-American - Lou-Gehrig’s disease.

Tony Revolori (1996) Guatemalan [Spanish, Unspecified Indigenous, possibly other].

Alaqua Cox (1997) Menominee and Mohican - is Deaf and an amputee who uses a prosthetic leg.

Jharrel Jerome (1997) Afro-Dominican.

Chella Man (1998) Hongkonger and Jewish - is trans genderqueer (he/they) and is deaf.

Georgia Rankin (1998) - has skeletal dysplasia, had her hip bones removed, and uses a wheelchair.

Bilal Hasna (1999) Punjabi and Palestinian.

Danielle Perez (?) Afro-Dominican - is a double lower leg amputee and is queer.

[thehappyscavenger]

Books Read in July 2023

This month was crazy. I can't believe I read 8 books. True they were also shorties but I started 2 really huge books as well and made headway into them. WTF.

The House of Skin by Karina Lickorish Quinn

This is a really short novella (about 60 pages) that is a haunting gothic piece. A London artist is adopted by this family of patrons who bring her to their mansion to work. More of a mood vibe than anything. Really liked it.

I Am A Strange Loop by Douglas Hofstadter

This was Hofstadter making a stab at human consciousness and trying to explain what makes humans different from machines. I'm not sure it works fully but the ideas are interesting. The first third has a lot of math explanations I found confusing tbh so that was a bit of a slog to get through but I enjoyed it overall.

My Stupid Intentions by Bernardo Zannoni

Something about books about anthropomorphic animals just get me every time. This is about the exceptional life of a beech marten and is just absolutely soul crushing and beautiful. Pitch perfect, loved it.

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

This was recommended to me by someone as the best book they read all year and, while I liked it while I was reading it, upon reflection it really falls apart and I hated it.

Part of it is about the rewilding of wolves in Scotland and part of it is a murder mystery following the lead character, a twin, and her sister who was abused so thoroughly she stopped talking. I found the abuse narrative like... shockingly dumb. I mentioned this on a book discussion forum I frequent and they mentioned lots of other books about the Scottish rewilding so I'm excited for that!

Fruit by Brian Francis

So I first heard of this when it came out around 2004 and it sounded interesting but it took me this long to read it! 19 years till I carved out time for this book during which it's become something of a modern Canadian classic.

This is about a little 8th grader in Sarnia who is fat and is struggling with his friendship and sexuality. Just pitch perfect and funny and heartbreaking. Hard recommend.

Bluebeard's Castle by Anna Biller

I got this as an ARC. I like Biller as a filmmaker and I was wondering how her unique style would work as a novel since her dialogue is so weird.

Oddly as it turned out. I feel like a lot of people are either going to hate this or not get it but while it's a very modern book her style of outright stating themes and blaring plot in neon lights is very reminiscent of early gothic works. Like 1700s gothic morality stuff. By the end I was won over by this so worth a shot imo.

Promise by Christi Nogle

Black Mirror-esque stories of worlds set in the near future. Like all short story collections this was mixed but there was plenty to enjoy and it left a favourable impression overall.

Blackouts by Justin Torres

I can't even explain this book except to say it's pretty brilliant. Even though I read an ARC of this I think I'm going to buy it.

It's fictionalized history and reminded me a bit of Autobiography of X even though it's about real people. I loved it though. Highly recommend.