#Susanna Nied

[roughghosts]

An inexhaustible landscape of words: The Condition of Secrecy by Inger Christensen

Writing poems is just as much a mysterious miracle. Not that there’s anything mystical or ceremonial about it. Or anything religious. It’s a neutral miracle, so to speak, granted in advance, because in the process of writing we need to use language in its whole, indissoluble connection with reality. It’s that connection with reality that’s a mysterious miracle. And that’s what poetry has to enter…

[slateblueearthbelow]

from “Everything Shimmers”

by Naja Marie Aidt

translated from the Danish by Susanna Nied

Then suddenly beech woods, all green behind the dozing eyes  a deer leaps across the forest road  scents of acid and moss and cheek against bark, sunrain  between trunks, I’m home and hear the Baltic Sea  crash against big rocks far away and I rest like a  fairy or a witch in the sweet smells of the forest floor  we can so easily forget what we are who we are  that we are, but it takes only a little call  to waken the sleepers, as now, in the forest, for  LISTEN, isn’t that song and the chiming of goblets  sounding in the green chambers? YES by golly, a celebration  for the child in his seventeenth year, who never has  been happier and never will be happier; the world shimmers  everything unimaginably possible while a handspring  and a new but not disturbing sensitivity have settled  in the middle of his irresistibly marzipanescent  body. 

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Alting Blinker

Så pludselig bøgeskov, helt grønt bag de blundende øjne  en hind springer over den stampede jordvej  her lugter af syre og mos og kinden mod bark, solregn  mellem stammer, jeg er hjemme og hører Østersøen  slå mod store sten langt borte er jeg hvilende som en  fe eller en heks i skovbundens dufte  vi kan så let glemme at vi er dem vi er  at vi er, men der skal bare et lille signal til  at vække den slumrende, som nu, i skoven, for  HØR NU er det ikke sang og bægerklang  der lyder i de grønne sale? JO, et gilde sørme  for barnet i sit syttende år, der aldrig har  haft det bedre og aldrig får det bedre; verden blinker  alting ufatteligt muligt mens et kraftspring  og en ny men ikke forstyrrende følsomhed har slået sig ned  midt i den uimodståeligt marcipanemmende  krop.

[sparklingmusicofstars]

All the characters chibi as butlers !

My next life as a villainess all routes lead to doom.

[lilium-dragomir]

[sparklingmusicofstars]

It's just me or in this chapter we have a long discussion about Catarina's cuteness for the first time in 12 volumes ?! Usually people don't mention it, even Laura said that ! It startled me. And Raphael who agrees about that ! It's really adorable !!! He really is a lady killer.

Hamefura LN 13 Chapter 2 Summary (Part 1)

I am currently reading Hamefura LN13 and will post summaries after each chapter.

I have split Chapter 2 into 2 parts since it is so long.

Previous chapters:

Chapter 1: The Foreign Study Matter

Chapter 2: The Prince of Ethenell (Part1)

***Cezar's POV***

Cezar's Past

Ethenell's previous king was a lewd man who would take the women he desired in his inner palace and then chase them out once he got tired of them. Many women were pleased to get a short luxury life, but if a woman happened to get pregnant, she would be confined in the inner palace.

Cezar's mother was one of these pregnant women. Many of them would lose heart over being kidnapped, and then confined forever, but Cezar's mother was strong. She was part of a traveling troupe, then she was kidnapped, forced to sleep with the king, pregnant with his child, and locked in the inner palace. In her situation, people would normally spend their time crying, or take their own life, but she stood strong and kept telling Cezar that once he was older, they would escape the inner palace, join a traveling troupe, and spend their time traveling. She was serious about it and stood strong to fulfill this promise. Unfortunately, Cezar's mother was very weak to heat because of her snow-white cold skin. She would always get sick during the summer. The summer was particularly hot when he was six and she died because her body couldn't stand it.

After his mother had died, Cezar couldn't afford to be sad. As no one cared for him anymore, he was completely neglected in the inner palace and would likely die a dog's death. After he had collapsed, the women around him called him filthy and urged someone to dispose of him, but someone came to him and asked if he was alright. Cezar mustered his strength to open his eyes and saw that it was a high-ranked noble. The person urged people to call for a doctor. The people around him tried to dissuade him, but the person didn't let them object. He took Cezar's hand and told him to hold on. Cezar felt warm feelings from him and lost consciousness.

When he woke up, Cezar was in a gorgeous and luxurious room that he didn't recognize. He also felt better. He wondered whether he had died and if this was the afterlife. Then, a young man entered the room. It was a virile and healthy-looking man with high-quality clothes, and probably someone of high status. When the young man asked how he felt, Cezar answered as politely as he could. The young man smiled when he said he felt better.

Cezar convalesced in this room, and after he had recovered, he also learned academics and swordplay there. After his body had gotten better, Cezar learned that the young man who saved him was actually his half-brother, and also a candidate for the throne. Upon realizing the difference in status, Cezar tried to correct the way he addressed him, but it made his half-brother sad. His half-brother considered him his little brother since he didn't have any siblings from his mother, and he didn't interact much with their other siblings. His half-brother enjoyed taking care of him and Cezar could tell that he treasured him very much. Cezar wanted to stay by his side and support him.

Once he was able to go out without his half-brother, he realized that a lot of people frowned over his half-brother and him being close, especially the half-brother's mother. Since Cezar was born to a mother with an unknown upbringing, he brought his half-brother's reputation down by staying by his side. He thought maybe he needed to leave his half-brother for his sake. He sought advice from his half-brother's wet nurse and her son, who was also his best friend. Cezar loved his half-brother as much as his half-brother loved him, so he couldn't bear to be a burden to him. It was painful for him that he couldn't return the favor. So he decided that once he would be 15, he would leave the inner palace When he left, he officially said that it was because he didn't belong to the place, but in truth, it was because he didn't want to be a burden to his brother. His half-brother was sad about his parting but didn't oppose it, on the contrary, he gave his support. Jean also accompanied Cezar when he left because the half-brother was worried about him setting off alone.

Cezar and Jean became mercenaries because Cezar had heard it was a quick way to earn money. As a mercenary, he hunted down rebels who targeted the royal family and his half-brother's faction. He believed it was for the sake of his half-brother. Cezar couldn't forget the day his hands were first stained with blood. He feigned composure on the outside while he couldn't help feeling sick. He kept trying to persuade himself that it was necessary so that he could live freely. He kept trying to persuade himself that he wasn't bothered by it.

Ten years passed and Cezar, now accustomed to his free mercenary life., heard that his half-brother had been enthroned. His half-brother had deplored for a long time the decadence of the country and had kept saying he wanted to change it. While Cezar couldn't help him in the inner palace, he hoped that hunting down rebels had helped his half-brother even if only a little. When he went to see his half-brother who had become king, the latter asked him to help him, so Cezar didn't go back to his free life as "Mercenary Cezar", and instead, returned to being "Prince Cezar Dahl".

Back To The Present

While Cezar is absorbed in his thoughts on the deck of the ship taking him to Sorcier, Jean, who is now his servant, asks him to return to his room or else he might fall into the sea. Cezar politely replies that he will be fine. Jean discreetly tells him that it was his polite way to ask him to get the hell back to his room because he is making all the newbie sailors nervous. Cezar looks around and realizes that Jean is right. He is now a prince but he still acts the same way as when he was a mercenary.

Cezar is currently riding a ship from Ethenell to Sorcier. It is a shabby ship compared to the Sorcieran ship he rode to the International Assembly. After all, Ethenell is still studying shipmaking from Sorcier. There is also an inexperienced crew on the ship because the seasoned sailors fled the country because of the civil war.

Cezar can't help feeling guilty about being the only one going on a foreign study trip to Sorcier. He feels like he should rather take care of the mountain of work for the reform of the country. Jean assures him it is fine since the King himself told him to go. If he had stayed, he would have just overworked himself. Cezar still feels guilty to be the only one who gets to rest. Jean insists it is fine since the "Big Sis" is there to support the king.

The person Jean referred to as "Big Sis" is the Queen. She has been the half-brother's ally since long ago and wanted to reform the country together with him. Now that she has cleaned the inner palace, she is finally able to support him. Like the King, she told Cezar to go rest in Sorcier.

Cezar still feels guilty. Jean tells him he is always overthinking things. Resting is part of the job and he has hardly rested since he left the inner palace at fifteen years old. Cezar retorts that, in that case, Jean should be the same. Jean simply replies that unlike him, he knows when to rest. Jean smirks since Cezar cannot retort anything to that.

Jean adds that this foreign study trip to Sorcier is also the occasion for Cezar to meet a girl he likes. Cezar retorts that he can't do that since she is engaged to one of the Sorcier princes. Jean teases him: he has only said "a girl he likes" without making it specific. "So, there's a girl you like? :p" Jean splendidly got him. Jean feigns ignorance but he knows who Cezar likes, and most probably reported it to his half-brother. It might be why his half-brother told him "Go on a foreign trip to Sorcier and create good relationships".

Despite this, Cezar thinks it would cause an international problem if he were to steal the fiancée of a Sorcier prince. His half-brother probably thinks it will be fine since there are rumors saying that

the third prince's engagement is most likely a contractual one since he got engaged not so long after his older brothers

Sorcerian nobles freely break off the engagement decided by their parents during their childhood and marry for love

Katarina has enrolled in the Ministry of Magic because she intends to break off her engagement with Geordo.

However, Cezar could see at the International Assembly that Geordo and Katarina's engagement was not a simple contractual one: Geordo, at least, is deeply in love with Katarina. Geordo is still immature because of his young age but Cezar feels like he will grow into a formidable man. Cezar doesn't think he has the ardor to make an enemy of Geordo to get Katarina. Most probably not.

Ever since Cezar met Katarina, he has been able to do more things that he couldn't do before. Maybe because she has accepted his eyes that he has been hiding behind black lenses. Despite meeting only a few times, he loses his composure whenever he thinks about her. Ever since it was decided that he would go on a foreign study trip to Sorcier, he has remembered things that he forgot until now.

Cezar asks Jean to get out of his room because he wants to get some rest. Jean gets out without a fuss. Cezar lies down on his bed and steels his mind. He will focus on taking advantage of his foreign study to create good relationships. He will contain his feelings and not interact with Katarina no matter what. 

*** Katarina's POV***

Start Of The Day At The Ministry

Katarina has heard that Cezar has safely arrived in Sorcier and started his foreign study. Even so, Katarina mostly commutes to the Ministry of Magic and then back home, so she may actually never encounter him while he is there.

Katarina heads to the Ministry, then the Magic Tool Department. No one is here yet. Work has not been busy recently. The busyness of the department can usually be measured by the size of the bags under the eyes of the vice-director, Raphael.

The weather is fine, so Katarina opens the curtains so that the room is basked in sunlight. She also takes the broom and starts sweeping. Cleaning the place on sunny days puts Katarina in a good mood. At first, people were shocked whenever she started cleaning the place, but now they are used to it. While it is unusual for ladies of her status to use a broom, she actually uses it at home when her mother urges her to clean the dirt she has brought inside the house after working the fields. In her past life, she also cleaned her room and the school.

Her coworkers arrive in the department room. Laura thanks her for cleaning the place. Katarina notices that Laura has new clothes, which have even more frills than before. Laura has been dressing more intensely lately. Laura explains that, since she dresses as a man for her mission, she wants to dress even girlier in response to that. She has also bought some new make-up. Katarina asks her if she has bought them at the shop she talked about a while ago. Laura confirms. She highly recommends the shop to Katarina since they have quality products. Katarina is not sure about that since she doesn't know anything about cosmetics. She always leaves it to her maid Anne. Laura thinks it is a waste since Katarina has such a pretty face. Katarina thinks Laura is flattering her. However, she has also heard her maids say the same thing. Even so, Katarina is more interested in food than cosmetics, so if she ever visited a cosmetics shop, she would probably end up going to the food shops nearby. Katarina is knowledgeable about food and farming, but not so much about cosmetics, which is something Anne regrets too. When Katarina tells her she is more interested in food than cosmetics, Laura calls her a kid. She thinks she should take care of her appearance for the one she loves. When she asks Katarina if she likes someone, Raphael arrives.

Everyone greets Raphael. Katarina realizes that Sora is actually not here and looks around in search of him. Looking at her, Raphael explains that Sora will not be here today because he has been sent on a mission outside. Raphael also has a specific task for Katarina from Larna.

Larna's Request To Katarina

Larna will be at the castle for the day and she would like Katarina to deliver her something. Raphael will be Larna's stand-in, so he won't be able to teach her dark magic anyway. Katarina wonders why Larna would specifically ask her to go on an errand, but she accepts.

Laura doesn't think they should let Katarina do this task. Raphael thinks Katarina should be fine since the castle is safe and she won't get lost like Nathan would. But Laura insists that Katarina is so cute that a foreign prince could fall in love with her at first sight. Laura sounds like a grandma who can't help boasting about her grandchild. Katarina feels so embarrassed she feels like running away. She expects Raphael to retort something as tsukkomi, but to her surprise, he agrees with Laura. Katarina feels even more embarrassed and really wants someone to retort something. In the end, Nix retorts that Katarina has lots of heavy turn-offs that make her uncute. Besides, she is not as beautiful as him. While Katarina appreciates the retort, she feels a bit annoyed that he would be the one saying she has turn-offs. Laura doesn't agree with Nix. Nix is annoyed that Laura insists that Katarina is cute and suggests she accompanies Katarina if she is so worried about her. Laura replies that she would like to do that but she can't go to the castle. Katarina tries to change the subject by asking Laura why she can't go to the castle. Laura replies that she would be treated as a suspicious person there. Nix thinks that she just needs to act properly even if the people of the castle question her.

It is time to start work. As Laura and Raphael are still worried about her, Katarina assures them that she will be fine since he often goes to the castle. Katarina prepares the things to deliver to Larna. She feared it might have been a magic tool but it is only some documents. Katarina wonders why Larna especially asked her to deliver them. Raphael also gives her a letter from Larna that she must read on the way.

Katarina opens the letter in the carriage. Larna wrote that she would not operate as "Larna" at the castle. Upon reading this, Katarina understands that Larna will be there as "Susanna". Only a few higher-ups know that Larna is Susanna Randall. As for Katarina, she realized it thanks to her special skill, which enables her to recognize her loved ones even if they are disguised. She recently revealed to Larna that she knew her true identity. Katarina feels relieved now that she understands why Larna specifically asked for her.

When she arrives at the castle, Katarina states that she has something to deliver to Susanna Randall. The servant communicates the room Susanna is in and also informs her that a foreigner is at the castle for his foreign study. Katarina remembers that Cezar is supposed to have arrived in Sorcier. She makes a detour to avoid the places where Cezar might be and arrives at the room Susanna is in.

Talking With Susanna And Jeffrey

When she enters the room, Katarina is surprised to see Jeffrey with Susanna. Katarina is flustered over having to watch her manners, but Jeffrey tells her there is no need. Susanna tells Katarina she is free to consider Jeffrey as a pebble. Katarina is shocked that Susanna can be so rude to a prince. Jeffrey tells Katarina not to mind it too much since this is how they always are. Katarina is surprised since they don't appear so intimate in public.

Katarina gives the documents to Susanna. Susanna takes a look at them and confirms everything is okay. Katarina is glad to have fulfilled the task, but she wonders why Susanna forgot these documents and why she didn't retrieve them herself since the Ministry is not so far from the castle. Susanna replies that she must stay at the castle today to interact with the foreign prince who has come for his foreign study. Normally she wouldn't make this kind of mistake, but she actually wanted to give and tell Katarina something.

Susanna returns to Katarina the pocket mirror object that Geordo bought for her during Keith's kidnapping case. It appeared to be a magic tool, and it was thanks to it she could form a contract with Pochi. After the case, she left the magic tool with Larna so that she could investigate it.

Unfortunately, Susanna couldn't learn much about the magic tool, except that it is very old. Based on the material, it seems to have been made during the period of the foundation of the Sorcier Kingdom. Katarina is surprised to learn it is such an old artifact since it seems to be in a good state. Larna thinks it might be because magic was cast on it. Maria has confirmed that there is a faint trace of dark magic on it. Katarina is amazed that dark magic can be used to keep objects in such a good state. Susanna thinks it can also be the dark magician who is amazing. Dark magic, like other magics, is influenced by the skills of the caster.

Aside from this, it also means that dark magic already existed during the time of the foundation of the Sorcier Kingdom. The pocket mirror object might have been created before magic developed in Sorcier. There is so much mystery around dark magic, but Susanna hasn't been able to dig anything. There is nearly no data on the hundreds of years after the foundation of the kingdom, especially regarding magic. The Sorcier Kingdom is supposed to have been founded by magic wielders who came from another continent, but this is not necessarily true since history can have been rewritten at some point for any reason. 

Anyway, Susanna couldn't find anything despite many investigations, so she thought she should return the pocket mirror object to Katarina. However, she can hold on to it if Katarina doesn't want to keep it.

Katarina is hesitant to keep it. This pocket mirror object has dark magic attached to it and some kind of history. She doesn't think Geordo would hold it against her if she let Susanna keep his gift. But this pocket mirror object is also what enabled them to save Keith. Besides, she has a feeling that it isn't a "dangerous" or "bad" object, but rather a "good" object. She has no basis for this, but her gut feeling usually turns out to be right. As a result, Katarina decides to keep the pocket mirror object. 

Next, they move on to the next topic. Jeffrey tells her about how dangerous the person behind Sarah is. Despite all his efforts, he still hasn't been able to catch them. And this person most likely targets her. Katarina has only considered the danger of her doom flags until now, but she can feel the danger of a person that Jeffrey and Susanna can't catch. Jeffrey is trying to protect her and her surroundings as best as he can, but at the end of the day it is Katarina herself who can protect herself the best, so he asks her to be very very careful.

Susanna and Jeffrey have finished their business with Katarina, so they return to attending to Cezar. Before leaving, Susanna advises Katarina to rely on Pochi.

Talking to Pochi

Katarina ponders Susanna's words on the way to the carriage gate. Pochi can go gigantic and usually listens to what she says but there are times when he is out of control. Katarina summons Pochi when in a corridor out of sight. She tells him that she is targeted by a dangerous person and asks him to protect her when she is in danger. Pochi barks like he understood what she said. Katarina happily thanks Pochi and takes him into a hug. She thoroughly enjoys his fluffiness. Pochi suddenly senses something. He gets out of Katarina's arms and runs full speed somewhere. Katarina feels sad that Pochi would suddenly abandon her despite the great mood they had there. She runs after him.

Meeting Again the Mysterious Blond Man

Without surprise, Pochi leads her for the fourth time to the forbidden area where Geordo and Alan's shut-in uncle lives. Katarina wonders if there is something in there that attracts Pochi. Pochi won't answer when she asks. Looking around, Katarina doesn't find the place so strange except that it is a bit dark because of the unpruned trees.

Last time, she peeked at one of the open windows, which led her to meet an incredibly gorgeous young man who was probably Geordo and Alan's uncle. At that time, despite being their first meeting, he called her a villainous lady for leading the prince on and playing with him. Unlike the badmouthing she heard in high society, these words stuck deep in her heart because they were true. But it is thanks to these words that she has been able to think of her feelings afterward, so she feels thankful for them.

Still, Katarina doesn't want to hear painful words like that again. As she thinks of turning back, Pochi suddenly runs further inside the area and jumps inside a brushwood. Katarina chases after him and goes through the brushwoods. At that moment, she hears the voice of a man startled by Pochi. Katarina freaks out because Pochi has been seen by someone. She comes out of the brushwood and apologizes to the man for her dog startling him.

The young man appears to be the same person that she was thinking of just now: the blond-haired and obsidian-black-eyed man from last time. The young man coldly tells her that it is a restricted area. Katarina explains that she has come here after her pet has run away. Katarina hurriedly retrieves Pochi, who seems displeased. The young man coldly replies it is common sense not to let pets run free inside the castle. Katarina agrees and sincerely apologizes. The young man urges her to go away since she has found her pet. He really seems to hate her.

Katarina suddenly remembers she has something to tell him, and stops him from leaving. The young man has a suspicious look. She sincerely thanks him for telling her last time that she was unconsciously hurting people. Thanks to this, she was able to realize the impact of her actions. Katarina has been wanting to thank him the next time she sees him, and she is glad she has been able to convey her thanks. The young man has frozen in shock. Katarina asks him if he is alright. The young man is completely astounded she would express thanks for something like that. He wonders what she has in her head. He mutters to himself that he knew she was weird but he didn't realize to what extent. Katarina doesn't know how to react and looks at the young man. She can tell he is Geordo's relative: he is tall and has a handsome build. While she is fascinated by him, the young man reverts to his cold self and urges her to go away. As the young man is about to leave in the opposite direction, Katarina unconsciously grabs his arm. The young man is shocked. Katarina doesn't understand why she did this, but she pretends that she wants him to guide her out since she might get lost. The young man shakes her hand off and for some reason dusts off the leaves on her head. The leaves probably come from when she went through the brushwood. After he has finished, the young man leaves for good this time. Katarina thanks him for removing the leaves from her head but he doesn't reply. Pochi is sad while watching the young man leave, so Katarina wonders if Pochi expressly runs here to see him. But she doesn't get an answer from Pochi. Katarina is confused about the young man: on one hand, he seems to hate her, on the other hand, he has removed the leaves from her head. Maybe she will ask Geordo and Alan about him.

[viejospellejos]

La pillada a Susanna Griso por un micro abierto en Espejo público: “Esta chica que no sé ni cómo se llama no me interesa”

[violettesiren]

If I stand alone in the snow it is clear that I am a clock

how else would eternity find its way around

from Light: “If I stand” by Inger Christensen (Translated By Susanna Nied)

[thenervebible]

Inger Christensen tr. Susanna Nied

[rebeccadumaurier]

2023 Books in Review

a tiered ranking of all the books i read in 2023! originally i was going to write up my commentary on each one but then i was like hahaha.....no, so below the cut is just a list of the titles/authors in each tier instead.

changed my brain chemistry

The Idiot, Elif Batuman

Land of Milk and Honey, C Pam Zhang

The Borrowed, Chan Ho-kei (trans. Jeremy Tiang)

My Cousin Rachel, Daphne du Maurier

Vagabonds, Hao Jingfang (trans. Ken Liu)

The Membranes, Chi Ta-wei (trans. Ari Larissa Heinrich)

Under the Pendulum Sun, Jeannette Ng

Severance, Ling Ma

He Who Drowned the World, Shelley Parker-Chan

Vita Nostra, Marina & Sergey Dyachenko (trans. Julia Meitov Hersey)

Network Effect, Martha Wells

top-tier stuff

Our Share of Night, Mariana Enriquez (trans. Megan McDowell)

Brainwyrms, Alison Rumfitt

The Door, Magda Szabo (trans. Len Rix)

The Lover, Marguerite Duras (trans. Barbara Bray)

Fun Home, Alison Bechdel

Strange Beasts of China, Yan Ge (trans. Jeremy Tiang)

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, Becky Chambers

Pachinko, Min Jin Lee

Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century, Kim Fu

Tell Me I’m Worthless, Alison Rumfitt

Bliss Montage, Ling Ma

How to Read Now, Elaine Castillo

Annihilation, Jeff VanderMeer

The Fifth Season, N. K. Jemisin

If Beale Street Could Talk, James Baldwin

My Brilliant Friend and The Story of a New Name, Elena Ferrante

The Jasmine Throne, Tasha Suri

good, well-written

Carmilla, Sheridan Le Fanu

Life Ceremony, Sayaka Murata (trans. Ginny Tapley Takemori)

Yellowface, R. F. Kuang

A Memory Called Empire, Arkady Martine

Assassin of Reality, Marina & Sergey Dyachenko (trans. Julia Meitov Hersey)

Witch King, Martha Wells

Tokyo Ueno Station, Miri Yu (trans. Morgan Giles)

Parable of the Sower, Octavia Butler

Peaces, Helen Oyeyemi

Gingerbread, Helen Oyeyemi

Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir

The Pachinko Parlor, Elisa Shua Dusapin (trans. Aneesa Abbas Higgins)

All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy, Fugitive Telemetry, and System Collapse (Murderbot #1-4, #6-7), Martha Wells

Revenant Gun, Yoon Ha Lee

The Dry Heart, Natalia Ginzburg (trans. Frances Frenaye)

Gods of Want, K-Ming Chang

Paradais, Fernanda Melchor (trans. Sophie Hughes)

The Mushroom at the End of the World, Anna Tsing

Your Emergency Contact Has Experienced An Emergency, Chen Chen

The Hurting Kind, Ada Limon

Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie

An Unauthorised Fan Treatise, Lauren James

Upstream, Mary Oliver

The Art of Death, Edwidge Danticat

Meander, Spiral, Explode, Jane Alison

alphabet, Inger Christensen (trans. Susanna Nied)

Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates

flawed, but enjoyable

The Wicker King, K. Ancrum

Exit West, Mohsin Hamid

Detransition, Baby, Torrey Peters

Flux, Jinwoo Chong

Bang Bang Bodhisattva, Aubrey Wood

The Murder of Mr. Wickham, Claudia Gray

Natural Beauty, Ling Ling Huang

The Monster Baru Cormorant, Seth Dickinson

Certain Dark Things, Silvia Moreno-Garcia

The Likeness, Tana French

The Cabinet, Un-su Kim (trans. Sean Lin Halbert)

The Kingdom of Surfaces, Sally Wen Mao

The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On, Franny Choi

good, well-written, but not my cup of tea

The Good House, Tananarive Due

The Transmigration of Bodies, Yuri Herrera (trans. Lisa Dillman)

Roadside Picnic, Arkady & Boris Strugatsky (trans. Olena Bormashenko)

The School for Good Mothers, Jessamine Chan

At Night All Blood Is Black, David Diop (trans. Anna Moschovakis)

Family Lexicon, Natalia Ginzburg (trans. Jenny McPhee)

The Empress of Salt and Fortune, Nghi Vo

The Kingdom of This World, Alejo Carpentier (trans. Harriet de Onís)

Against Silence, Frank Bidart

flawed, less enjoyable

Tenth of December, George Saunders

Counterweight, Djuna (trans. Anton Hur)

Authority, Jeff VanderMeer

Comfort Me with Apples, Catherynne M. Valente

Babel, R. F. Kuang

The Genesis of Misery, Neon Yang

Carrie Soto Is Back, Taylor Jenkins Reid

not ranking

These are nonfiction and they aren’t literature-related, so it just felt weird trying to rank them.

Visual Thinking, Temple Grandin

On Web Typography, Jason Santa Maria

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo (trans. Cathy Hirano)

[smaller-comfort]

-alphabet by Inger Christensen, translated by Susanna Nied

Translator's Note: The length of each section of Inger Christensen's alphabet is based on Fibonacci's sequence, a mathematical sequence beginning 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21..., in which each number is the sum of the two previous numbers.

1 [a] apricot trees - 2 [b] bracken - 3 [c] cicadas - 4 [d] doves - 5 [e] early fall - 6 [f] fisherbird herons - 7 [g] given limits - 8 [h] whisperings exist - 9 [9] ice ages

[nablah]

attempting to imagine a thriving opera/theater industry in the PH:

Ang Kasal Nila Figaro/Le Nozze di Figaro - Set during the mid to late Spanish colonial era (translated "nila" instead of "ni" because Figaro Susanna, do not separate.)

Don Giovanni - Set during the early Spanish colonial era

Rigoletto - Set during the American colonial era / minor government body during the Marcos dictatorship

Holy shit why is our history so fucking dark we got to make this slightly happier

L'Orfeo - Set in pre colonial Luzon society (props to most of Visayas and Mindanao for having organized religion p early) / Japanese Occupation/ Early or Late Marcos dictatorship

Carmen - set during Japanese occupation/ PH-American war

Alceste - fits into a larger idea i have but set in a provincial hospital's radiology/ nuclear medicine department

La Traviata / Ibong Mababang Lipad - modern PH 😶

[naran-blr]

Mary Ruth Manning (1853-1930) pintora irlandesa.

Nació en Dublín, en el seno de una familia adinerada. Su padre, Robert, era ingeniero y se casó con su prima segunda Susanna Gibson, con quien tuvo siete hijos.

 Aparte de un período en el que vivió en Hampstead, Londres, entre 1889 y 1892, vivió en la casa familiar de Ely Place desde 1880.

Una de sus hermanas, Georgina Manning (alias Geraldine), fue una sufragista que destrozó un busto de John Redmond en una exposición de la Royal Hibernian Academy en 1913.

Ni Mary ni sus hermanas se casaron y vivieron en Ely Place hasta después de la muerte de su padre, y luego en Winton Road, Lesson Park.

Estudió en París en la década de 1870 con Louise Catherine Breslau y Sarah Purser.

Trabajó principalmente en óleo y acuarela.

De 1880 a 1892, su trabajo fue exhibido por la Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, la Walker Art Gallery, la Royal Hibernian Academy y en Bruselas.

Es conocida por su influencia en varias artistas irlandesas de la época. Ella y sus hermanas impartían lecciones de arte en un estudio para mujeres jóvenes que podían ingresar a la RHA, a muchas de las cuales animó a estudiar en París. Entre los artistas a los que enseñó e influyó se encuentran Mary Swanzy y Mainie Jellett.

Su enseñanza ocupó la mayor parte de su tiempo, lo que la llevó a exponer su propio trabajo con poca frecuencia.

Se convirtió en miembro del Dublin Sketching Club en 1885.

Murió en la casa familiar.

[sparklingmusicofstars]

Hamefura manga 5 Short Bonus Story : Raphael's disguises

Not only she does overwork him but she also plays with him with the last disguise, just go to hell Larna !!! My poor Raphael

Although he is cute as a girl too ^^

[lilium-dragomir]

[quidam-sirenae]

Scrawny- wallows

Our lady of the underground- hadestown

Mostly dead- Joseph dubay

Everybody’s lonely- jukebox the ghost

Stoned at the nail salon- lord

O Mi awn ni am dro- fleur de lys

Running with the wolves- aurora

That girl- emei

Oh Susanna

First date- shayfer James

Suicide- ren

I don’t like you- no such animal

Road to hell- Kate nyx

Endogeneity- Molly ofgeography

Nice docs baby- blue foster

URL song tag game

thank youuu @yesireadbooks

RULES: spell your url with song titles and then tag as many people as there are letters.

*dramatically removes the cloth from the board*

AHEM

F- family line by conan gray

I- idontwannabeyouanymore by billie eilish

R-run and hide by sabrina carpenter

E-exile by Taylor swift

-

B-boys will be bugs by cavetown

U-until i found you by stephen sanchez and em beihold

T-tennis court by lorde

-

A-almost is never enough by ariana grande

S- strawberry blond by mitski

H-habits by tove lo

E-easier than lying by halsey

S- seventeen by ryan mccartan and barrett wilbert weed (from heathers the musical) -

T-this december by ricky montgomery

O-o my heart by mother mother

O-overwhelmed by royal and the serpent

oh my god 15 letters that was long.

@holdmyteaplease @spicymochi @guessillcallitart @escapetheinevitable @cabbojage @maewrites13 @macabremoons @briannaswords @tea-and-mercury @ashwithapen @blackcrxwking @lycaens @iannicellis @anonymousfoz @fioreshere

(did i choose specifically people with relatively long urls? yes.)

[riddlesunderthepalemoonlight]

ADULT FILM STAR FOUND DEAD!

Sammy Fox dead after live streaming

The Filipino adult film star, Sammy Fox—born Susanna Denise Ponce Myers—was found dead by her friend at her apartment. She is only 31 years old. 

According to one witness who came forward, the film star was livestreaming on a known adult website minutes before her demise. The witness also stated that she was doing her usual entertainment while thanking those who watched and even answered some questions from her fans. “Kato nga stream niya kay nagsugod to murag mga alas otso sa gabii. Ako, fan jud ko ni Sammy. Mao to pag notify na nag live na siya kay ni apil dayun ko—mao to kanang hubo man jud nang mga porn stars unya naa siya sa kwarto man guro to niya o set-set raba to sa studio. Kuan nag duwa to siya sa iyang kaugalingon gamit katong dildo unya nitubag sad siya sa mga pangutana sa ni-apil sa iyang stream.” (Trans. Her stream began around eight o’clock at night. I am a fan of Sammy, that is why when I received the notification that she is doing live, I immediately joined. We all know porn stars are nude and she (Sammy) is on her room or maybe in a studio. She was playing with herself using a dildo and she was also answering questions from those who joined her stream.)

The majority of those who joined Sammy’s livestream specified that mid-orgasm during her entertainment, there was a disturbance on her stream with the signal going on and off and there were also some who recalled that the lights flickered seconds before the trouble with the signal happened. And before the stream abruptly ended, one unidentified source screenshotted a short-second frame of what a few believed to be what she looked like when she departed. The said circumstance was slowly becoming a modern legend since there was still no further information from the authorities. “Rona”, the film star’s friend who discovered her body had only given the media a vague statement of what she saw since she was still visibly shaken from the incident. “I do not know what to say. I just got home from work at that time and routine jud nako na manghagad ni Denise (Sammy Fox) og mangape. Lock ang pultahan atong buntaga nga naabot ko unya wala na lang nako sad siya samuka. Unya naabot na lang og mga ala una, nahibong ko wala pa man ni gawas si Denise kai kato siya mag jogging man gud na siya diri’s village namo. Untop ala una or mga ma late ra og pila ka minutes, mao jud nang orasa iyang ganahan mag exercise. Mao to mura naman ko og nakulbaan, nanghuwam ko og yawe sa anak sa among landlord ato kay ako na lang pukawon si Denise. Basin nasakit diay wala lang magsaba. Pero, before jud ani katong mga alas nuwebe sa buntag, human atong nanuktok kos iyaha, ako siyang gi chattan og gitawan unya wala jud mutubag. Mao nang nakahuna-huna na lang ko na ako nalang jud siya adtoon balik. Pag-abli nako sa iyang kuwarto kay wala ko kasabot sa akong gibati. Nahibong kos kadaghan sa dugo nga naa sa salog, sa higdaanan, og sa lawas niya mismo. Naa pa sad to iyang tripod og cellphone sa atubangan. Human ato kay nidagan kos akong unit unya nanawag na og mga pulis.” (Trans. I do not know what to say. I just got home from work at that time and it is my routine to always invite Denise (Sammy) for a coffee. Her door was locked at that moment and I just decided not to bother her. But then one o’clock came, and I was surprised that she did not jog around our village. Exactly one o’clock or a short minute later was the usual time she allotted for her exercise. Hence, I already felt anxious and borrowed the keys from our landlord’s son so that I could wake Denise up. Maybe she might be sick and just did not tell anyone. But before all of that, at nine o’clock, an hour after I knocked at her door, I chatted with her and called her, and received no response. That is why I just decided to visit her once more. As I opened the door to her room, I did not understand what I felt. I was overwhelmed by the pool of blood on the floor, on her bed, and all over her body. Her tripod, with her cellphone on it, was still standing in front. After all of that I ran back to my unit and called the authorities.) 

Currently, the authorities are still investigating the gruesome event and have also confiscated the full copy of the live, screenshots, and transactions made on that very stream. 

Written by: Madam X

unredacted photos: NSFW images