#The Dolls Alphabet

[words-and-coffee]

I sleep the way a flower does

Camilla Grudova, The Doll's Alphabet: Notes From a Spider

[pinkfai]

Source: thebarbieinvasion on Instagram

[cometcrystal]

act your age fireside girl redesigns x

[copiawife]

check out these postcards i got!! i need to find a place to put them up in my room

[thehappyscavenger]

Books Read June 2024

Direct Sunlight by Christine Sneed

I fell in love with Sneed's writing after reading The Virginity of Famous Men earlier this year. This is another strong collection with her trademark subtle shifting glances into people's delicate lives and emotional states. Excellent work.

Cocktail by Lisa Alward

This was the final of the 2024 Danuta Gleed nominees I had to read. The funny thing is this is a lot like Sneed's work; literary fiction about relationships, but this didn't resonate. Probably found it the least engaging of the nominees but what do I know? It won the Danuta Gleed.

The Doll's Alphabet by Camilla Grudova.

Also a Danuta Gleed nominee but from a previous year. I saw this mentioned in a Twitter thread about best short story collections. Lived up to the hype. Eerie speculative fiction.

The Dance of the Demons by Esther Singer Kreitman

I heard someone mention Kreitman in the context of being Isaac Bashevis Singer's neglected and forgotten older literary sister. Was she an undiscovered amazing author buried by the patriarchy? Well, not in English she wasn't. I found the novel quite sad and a bit of a slog. An interesting read in the way it captures a way of European Jewry about to be completely obliterated but not a great read on its own. The edition I read included essays and notes on the translation which were very interesting though.

Things That Cause Inappropriate Happiness by Danila Botha

I wanted to like this so much. I found it incredibly mid. Also not the author's fault but there was an insane amount of typos in my copy, like 20+ which I've never had in a book before.

Bear by Julia Phillips

Went in and out of like with this one but I thought it stuck the landing incredibly well.

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

Quick and heartbreaking look at a sex bot who gains sentience. I thought this was incredibly heartbreaking and wonderful.

[mofffun]

you get a yanma sticker just for participation fine i'd play your rigged game

[obuza-ba]

Week D.

[lemontartc]

I found perfectly-proportioned pink and green gingham remnants at the thrift store so I might finally get to have this dress! I might make a mix-and-match co-ords set with both ginghams, but I definitely want to try this dress, I just don't know who for. Draculaura is an obvious choice, but the pink-on-pink might not be that interesting when the shade of the dress is so similar to Draculaura's skin so I thought I'd ask for opinions.

[website-com]

abbey bominable

[owlask]

I wrote down the names of my characters in Etruscan for fun

From top to bottom:

Ramatha, Velia, Zertur, Larthia

[nice-jewish-dyke]

I love transcribing music. But also. I hate transcribing music.

[words-and-coffee]

I look up at the store, at it’s windows, for her face. There was only the moon, like a death mask.

Camilla Grudova, The Doll's Alphabet: The Moth Emporium

[shutterandpencil]

Soup and Halo-halo

I didn't make that right, no, but Mako didn't mind. Then again, she always appreciates dessert.

[anaceshornyblog]

Sometime I’m trying to reply to a particular post and my brain decides to just shout something and then wow guess we’re thinking about a time travel adjacent multiple realities idea. So for you alls sick enjoyment/pos.

Please imagine that Jon is not the one who gets to time travel/universe hop when the end hits. It’s whoever is with him, and because of multiverse theory and because I am multishipping trash, that means a good chunk of the TMA cast. All of them convinced they are in love with Jon and all converging on one universe. Of course due to reasons telling Jon any of this is not allowed, also let’s be real, king of ignoring the problem would not listen.

Please just picture poor Jon, poor mostly solitary Jon suddenly ending up with a slew of admirers.

Standard Sasha, Tim, and Martin all suddenly competing for their boss’s affections, Jon getting overwhelmed and so confused because yes he does have a crush on everyone this is a PolyJon household here.

Jon suddenly getting far more attention from his boss, and pretty sure violates some sort of HR policy, but honestly Jon is feeling so wanted and Elias seems to know everything Jon wants to hear, and the flowers were very nice.

Gerry from a Gerry lives Au, with Jon suddenly getting swept off his feet by a hot goth on a motorcycle. Who’s just like we should go burn leitners together, great first date idea.

I’m a big fan of platonic, but they fuck JonDaisy so him just getting tackled by Daisy who is still a little fucked up from recently being a monster but it’s fine, Jon is pretty sure he’s getting kidnapped.

There are more, so many more in my head, but yeah, and now the Web is just like replacing their favorite horror podcast with a RomCom. Also there’s still horror because yeah the monsters love Jon but they are still monsters.

Do you all see my vision?

[rosegolden13]

Some thoughts about John Price who owns a hardware store in a small town post-retirement for a bum leg… That man could never be forced to not work. He’s not one to sit still for long, even with a small limp. 

Maintaining the place is simple work, easy on his heart and mind after all the stress of his previous job. Does he miss the adrenaline? The feeling of importance? Of course. So, he runs that hardware store like he’s still a captain. You bet those aisles are fully stocked and organized by product and alphabetized by brand. His book is always neatly filled out at the end of each day, reading glasses perched on the end of his nose as he records the daily finances and stock in a neat print. 

He wears kakis that fit just a bit too tight around the crotch, a red collared shirt that all the employees wear with a little logo that Soap designed over the chest pocket where John always has a pen tucked away. 

The biggest perk? The cute little clueless bird that comes in irregularly, needing help. Finally, he gets to feel competent again, needed by someone for his skill and expertise. 

The men almost never ask for help, too obsessed with their own masculinity to do that. Most of the women don’t need it, experts at the gardening or DIY projects they’re doing. 

But you? There’s some sort of home maintenance crisis you need help with nearly every month. John’s beyond grateful that you don’t just go on YouTube for tutorials or call a repairman like everyone else seems to be doing these days. He needs those doe eyes of yours trained on him as he explains the different types of hammers they have in stock and which one would be best for that loose floorboard of yours. He needs your sweet, grateful smile as you thank him for all his help.

He’ll get you the right wrench, doll, don’t worry your pretty little head. In fact, here’s his number in case you need help fixing your leaking sink. 

You need fertilizer for your garden? He’ll carry out the premium brand to your car for you and brush off your thanks with a simple “anytime, sweet'eart”.

The rest of the boys come in on their leaves to help out around the shop with stocking shelves and whatnot. Gaz and Soap cackle like hyenas the first time they see Price rush to your side when you tilt your head in confusion at all the different types of super glue. Even Simon is smirking a bit under his mask. The man is whipped.

[thehappyscavenger]

Our bodies were nuisances to the enjoyment of the machine.

The Doll's Alphabet, Camilla Grudova