#Robert Dinsdale

[diaryoftruequotes]

Mightn’t it be, that, until you’ve seen the dark, you don’t really know the light?

Robert Dinsdale, The Toymakers

[florriescreamlagoon]

One moment a man, one moment a monster. This is just the ordinary truth of existence. And there you stand, on the line that divides one from the other, poised on the precipice - ready to choose.

Robert Dinsdale, Once a Monster

[placeinthemiddleofnowhere]

off topic but do you have any book recommendations?

Ooh fun! Not super off topic for a fanfic writer 💕

I am such a bad reader when it comes to actual published books at the moment, but there’s certainly a few I can reccommend. Here’s a few of my faves ~

Toy Soldiers, Robert Dinsdale - This book made me cry. It was so whimsical and made you feel like anything could happen, but also so heartbreaking at times. If you want a lil sob go for it 😌✨ it’s a fantasy story based in London that follows a young girl that’s gotten pregnant and runs away from home so that’s she doesn’t get sent away and forced to give up the baby for adoption. She ends up finding a toy emporium that needs to take on staff and also there are two super handsome charming brothers that work there 👀

Heart Shaped box, Joe Hill - I love this guys stuff, but this novel particularly is a fave of mine because I LOVE how creepy it is 💕 it’s about an aging rockstar that gets haunted by the Ghost of his ex father in law! Also it has cute dogs that fend off the MC from ghosts, so that’s v cool

Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik - this one is a bit of a slow read because let me tell you, the characters suffer. However it’s definitely worth the read, because you will get so invested in all the different characters.

Sharp Objects, Gillian Flynn - I love the way she writes so much, her descriptions and the way she writes her characters is so evocative, they feel so real! I will say that this book is about a character that self harms so TW for that, it is very dark. However I think the darkness is what makes it so interesting, because even though Camille (the mc) is in such a grim situation, there are so many moments where you can connect with her.

[abernathyvalois]

reading the toymakers by robert dinsdale. it's perfect for winter. super SUPER atmospheric. I know it gets darker and heavier eventually but for now it's just so... dreamy? it reads like a dream. the descriptions bring me back to that feeling when you're a child that everything's a little magical. idk genuine wonder and awe and- listen I could just keep reading and reading the descriptions of the toy shop and the borderline (maybe?¿) magical toys forever and ever, it's so vivid AAAA

You do it so much justice I may have to add it to my tbr

[that-bookworm-guy]

Purple & black for International Asexuality Day

I've written about being asexual & what it means to me, but they were back in 2021, I though 2 years on I could update that, things have changed slightly but more silently.

💜 Being asexual isn't a huge part of my identity but it is a part of it. I haven't figure out where on the spectrum I am & I still feel no need to find a micro label.

🖤 I have flags in my room

🤍 I've been wearing a black ring on my middle finger on my right hand

💜 I have ace laces on my boots

🖤 I came out to my bestie

🤍 I've reflected more & asexual still fits me well. I've also reflected on my past & a lot of my questioning came from trying to work out whether I was ace due to truama or whether I was ace before. I saw a post that said aces that are ace due to truama are valid, & that helped with with feeling comfortable labelling myself as asexual. But I also figured that I was most likely ace before the truama. Although this doesn't make a difference, to me it feels like things have slotted into place & I can work on letting go of the questions & digging around in my trauma

💜 I've figured out that I am happy single & I would maybe be open to a relationship in the future if I wanted, but also that I refuse to lower my bar. Someone would have to accept all of me. This isn't necessarily an ace point but more a whole identity point. I know not everyone could date an ace person & that's okay. I've been single for nearly 5 years and I've not felt like I needed a relationship. I am a complete person without needing to find 'another half'. If someone comes along that adds something to my life & I add something to theirs, then that could become a relationship. But I won't accept anything less.

🖤 I've read a couple more ace books, but I need to read more non-fiction

🤍 I've definitely described myself as asexual more to those that I feel safe with

💜 I've bought some asexual badges to wear

🖤 I no longer feel like there is something wrong with me & I no longer put pressure on myself to change something that isn't broken

Books in order from top to bottom:

1. Afterlife - Tanya Bryne

2. Light - Micheal Grant (turned around so the black sprayed edges are on show)

3. Small g A Summer Idyll - Patricia Highsmith

4. Music and Malice in Hurricane Town - Alex Bell

5. Proud - Edited by Juno Dawson

6. The Toymakers - Robert Dinsdale

7. Fear - Micheal Grant (turned around so the purple sprayed edges are on show)

[inkpot-winters]

marauders as muggle books on my bookshelf, part 1

james potter: the toymakers by robert dinsdale in 1917, young cathy wray escapes to london to save her unborn child, finding a home within a peculiar toy emporium; patchwork dogs and bears that seem alive, toy boxes bigger on the inside than out, tin soldiers that can fight battles on their own. an underrated debut, one that i firmly believe james would enjoy. this story weaves in and out of the fantastical magical elements of the toy store with the grounded realism of corresponding historical events like the second world war. the characters almost parallel the marauders this way; young people surrounded by magic, fighting a war they shouldn't have to.

remus lupin: the goldfinch by donna tartt theo decker loses his mother in a terrorist attack when he is thirteen years old. in the haunting aftermath, he clings to every trace of her he has, including a certain painting salvaged from the incident. i think remus would connect instantly with theo, seeing himself within the love theo held for his mother. he'd be gripped by the story of this young man navigating love and loss and living regardless. perhaps the boris elements reminds me of wolfstar the goldfinch is a master study in grief. remus would be found only in the corner of the common room for days until he completes the novel.

sirius black: the picture of do- the ocean at the end of the lane by neil gaiman a man returns home to attend a funeral, and as he sits by the pond behind the old farmhouse, lost memories resurface of a girl named lettie hempstock, who had claimed this pond to be an ocean. it was highly tempting to assign sirius a fast-paced action filled novel, but i believe he'd enjoy neil gaiman the most out of any marauder. the ocean at the end of the lane is a whimsical yet severely introspective story, with horror elements that would have him on the edge of his seat. he'd read this in one sitting.

peter pettigrew: crime and punishment by fyodor dostoevsky raskolnikov, an impoverished former student, commits an impersonal murder. he finds himself entangled in a game of cat and mouse with a suspicious police investigator, as well as his growing conscience. i admit, this is extremely on the nose. however, i can vividly picture peter, on the verge of his betrayal, devouring this book in the hopes that it will lead in the direction of the best decision for him. or reassure him of whether he'll ever have a chance of redemption if he goes ahead with the dark lord's orders.

regulus black: the starless sea by erin morgenstern zachary ezra rawlins discovers a mysterious book, one with tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes. however, his life spirals when he reads something strange; a story from his own childhood. honorary mentions to the secret history (regulus black is made for dark academia), and hamlet (he's a sad poetry boy, he'd adore hamlet's monologues). the starless sea wins out due to its theme; a deep love of stories and storytelling. i believe regulus does little but read in grimmauld place, as his only form of escapism. he'd be fascinated by each story-within-the-story, the peculiar rituals, and lose himself for hours to the wonder of it all.

[kwebtv]

The Guardians -  ITV  -  July 10 - October 2, 1971

Sci Fi / Political Thriller (13 episodes)

Running Time:  60 minuutes

Stars:

Edward Petherbridge as Christoper Hobson

Derek Smith as Dennis Norman

John Collin as Tom Weston

Cyril Luckham as Sir Timothy Hobson

Lynn Farleigh as Eleanor Benedict

David Burke as Dr. Benedict

Gwyneth Powell as Clare Weston

Robin Ellis as Peter Lee

Robert Morris as Inspector Arnold

Peter Howell as Geoff Hollis

Joan Heal as Miss Joan Quarmby

Dinsdale Landen as Dr. Mark Thorn

Anthony Bate as Raymond Barry

Graham Crowden as The Dirtiest Man

Richard Vernon as Dace

Michael Culver as Paul

Richard Hurndall as Sir Francis Wainwright

Robert Russell as Gibb

John Bryans as Bullmore

John Rhys-Davies as First Guardian

James Grout as Hobbs

Peter Barkworth as Quarmby

Ken Hutchison as Second Guardian

Windsor Davies as Shop Steward

[h-polh-kaigetai]

Είδα το tik tok σου και είναι μόνο βιβλία...πρότεινε μου 5 βιβλία να διαβάσω που να μην είναι πολύ γνωστά.

Είναι όντως μόνο βιβλία. Καλύτερο ασκ εβερ ❤️

Βέβαια, θα προτείνω κάποια που μου αρέσουν πολύ, ίσως ειναι γνωστά, δεν ξερω

1. The illuminae files - Jay Kristoff & Annie Kauffman

2. Bunny - Mona Awad

3. The toy makers - Robert Dinsdale

4. White Noise - Don DeLilo

5. Tales from the gas station - Jack Townsend

[occasional-owl]

EDIT: IGNORE MY TYPO I HAD A TOUGH COUPLE OF DAYS

[myvisualthoughts]

Words Mean Things: Barbara Kruger

Blog Post #1

Barbara Kruger is a highly acclaimed contemporary artist who explores controversial themes related to feminism, consumerism, and identity. Her works prominently feature bold and provocative statements, serving as a powerful means of communication to address societal issues that are still prevalent today. Her popularity surged in the late 1980s when she established her distinctive artistic style, characterized by the juxtaposition of bold statements in white-on-red Helvetica and Futura fonts, combined with captivating imagery.

Barbara Kruger’s “Untitled (We Don’t Need Another Hero)" (1987). Courtesy of the artist and Sprüth Magers

In an interview with Kruger, Emily Dinsale summarized that "She used the conventions of advertising and mass-communication but, rather than selling a product, she used these techniques to promote a kind of questioning, encouraging the viewer to interrogate ideas that might have previously seemed self-evident."

“Untitled (I shop therefore I am)” Courtesy of the artist and Mary Boone Gallery

As seen in this iconic untitled piece, Barbara Kruger's approach to art diverged from traditional advertising practices. Instead of using it to promote products, she skillfully utilized the tools of advertising and mass communication to spark introspection and provoke thought. Through her art, Kruger aimed to challenge viewers to question assumptions and commonly held beliefs that often go unquestioned. By encouraging critical thinking, she sought to disrupt complacency and inspire individuals to engage in an intellectual exploration of their own beliefs. Kruger's unique artistic language prompted viewers to reevaluate the unquestioned ideologies ingrained in society, fostering a space for reflection and encouraging a deeper examination of prevailing ideas.

Deborah Roberts, courtesy of the artist and Stephen Friedman Gallery, Londo

From consumerism and feminism to power dynamics and identity, her art addresses multifaceted aspects of the world we live in.

Having grown up in a working-class, poor, Black neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey, Kruger was intimately familiar with the challenges faced by others in terms of power dynamics, control, hierarchy, and marginalization. These early experiences played a pivotal role in shaping her perspectives on these societal issues. They served as a foundation for her ideas and fueled her artistic exploration of these themes throughout her career. Kruger's personal encounters with these challenges provided her with a deep understanding and empathy, motivating her to create thought-provoking artwork that confronted and questioned the prevailing structures and systems that perpetuated inequality and oppression.

It is fascinating to observe how her early childhood experiences played a significant role in shaping her outlook and cultivating a strong sense of empathy. Her art continues to serve as a platform for raising awareness, challenging norms, and inspiring critical engagement.

---

Sources:

Barbara Kruger Art, Bio, Ideas. (n.d.). The Art Story. https://www.theartstory.org/artist/kruger-barbara/

Dinsdale, E. (2020b). The power of Barbara Kruger’s art, in her own words. Dazed. https://www.dazeddigital.com/art-photography/article/48055/1/the-power-of-barbara-krugers-art-in-her-own-words

O’Grady, M. (2020, November 2). Barbara Kruger Offers a Dark Mirror for Our Meme-Driven Age. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/19/t-magazine/barbara-kruger.html

[florriescreamlagoon]

All of life's a waiting room, he could wait just a little bit longer.

Once A Monster, Robert Dinsdale

[manuscripts-dontburn]

currently reading: The Toy Makers by Robert Dinsdale

[annelisreadingroom]

I think I have asked this before but do you read books in more than one languages? I read in English and Finnish. I've studied several other languages but I don't know any of them well enough to read novels.

[vaguely-functional-directions]

Thanks for the tag !! This took me a couple days to get to haha

Current read: Lessons in chemistry by Bonnie Garmus- I got this book for christmas; it's about a woman in the 50s/60s who is a chemist but because of the time period she faces backlash for it and ends up hosting a cooking show on tv

Recent read: The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale- this one was about this kind of magical toyshop and had like fairytale vibes, which I am always a fan of

Future read: A Curse for True Love by Stephanie Garber. This is the final book in the sequel trilogy to Caraval and I am so excited to read it. I was supposed to have my own copy of it by now, but can't have it with me because Reasons, so now I get to borrow my roommates copy as soon as she finishes it

Tagging @tazzypenguin @twizzlelutz and anyone else who want to

I was tagged by @oldshrewsburyian to list current, recent, and future reads.

Current Read: Novelist as Vocation by Haruki Murakami (dense but interesting), The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin (a bit too metaphysical. And his habit of starting sentences with "and" and "but" is a bit annoying. But I'm sticking with it. And even annotating. So...)

Recent: What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama (excellent story; five stars), Art Deco by Janet Stiles Tyson (a brief but comprehensive history of the style and the movement, lavishly illustrated)

Future: Wine For Normal People by Elizabeth Schneider (wine is a black hole in my knowledge, but I am learning and I absolutely refuse to be shown up by any of the snobs at work; yes I realize this is a petty reason to learn something new)

Tagging: @counterwiddershins, @theodoradove, @belphegor1982, @accidentallylita, @tollers-and-jack, @sweetfayetanner, and anyone else who wants to play!

[ofblackclouds]

Ok y’all I am in need of book recs. I am in love with anything with a touch of magic/magical realism. I just finished reading the miniaturist and my Favourite Book of All Time is the night circus. I also really enjoyed the mermaid and mrs hancock, the toymakers. I don’t mind good old slow paced historical fiction either. Basically any period trope with something magical/fantastical/mysterious and a whole bunch of romance whacked on top holds the key to my heart. If you know something I might like please hmu! Ta very much xx