#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

[plantdad-dante]

Book #192 - Paris By Starlight by Robert Dinsdale

(this isn't what I read books for, this is what I read the newspaper for. if I wanted to be this depressed about a current social issue, I would go and read some recent history, or some investigative journalism. meme-wise, this book could have been an article in Le Monde International.)

This book demands a patience of its reader that I simply do not possess. Its pace is languid, its characters more those of a fairy tale or a moral story than a modern novel, and its setting and world never truly click with a plot that, laborious as it ends up moving, still wishes to move forward.

It demands of you to sit there, while it pain-stakingly spins a surreal, dream-like tale of whimsical magic, regularly and jarringly broken up by harrowing tales of survival and hardship, in what I find to be a correct assessment of the European immigration system. Later it adds the unconvincing right-wing radicalization of an idiot teenager (who we are still supposed to empathise with, I think?), and the terrifying mind of a man so deeply off the deep-end of trauma and survival mode that I was just begging the book to finally put him into a mental institution or out of his misery and mine.

The soft, happy, static plot of Levon and Isabelle, with their music and their plants and their little birds and Arina the golden child, clashed with the terrifying, meteoric rise of nationalism around them, both in their own community and within Paris-by-Day. And I do not just mean that the first half of the book didn't quite fit with the second, but also how Isabelle and Levon behaved in the latter half. I wish Levon had argued, had stood up for his ideals and tried to convince his People. He would not have had to be a leader to do it, he just needed to say something. Stand up to your deeply traumatized and terrifying dad, my dude.

But no, Isabelle and him just played out their own version of Pyramus und Thisbe instead, leaving the People to either deal or fall in line with their wanna-be dictator...

See, I agree with the book that Empires and nationalism are bad, that borders are bullshit, and, most importantly, that violence might buy you survival, but it won't buy you a life. But I just... did not have a single ounce, not a gram, of fun while reading it. Maybe this would work for someone else, I don't know. I have a feeling that if I dug deeper into it, its themes would get more jumbled than I am willing to entangle, so I will leave it at this.

Also, yes, nitpick, but if it had at least nailed down a decade and stuck to it, then maybe I wouldn't have had to constantly remind myself that this wasn't Victorian times and that no one was wearing petticoats.

[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)

[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

[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

[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!

[occasional-owl]

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

[manuscripts-dontburn]

currently reading: The Toy Makers by Robert Dinsdale

[florriescreamlagoon]

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

Once A Monster, 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.

[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

[charlieandbooks]

It's early. I'm at work but staying out of the buildings due to coronavirus. And I think I know what is coming in this book and I don't want it to happen!