#and Kristen tells me this is her favourite book in the series

[bronzewool]

Soul Eater by Lily Mayne is the first book in the Monstrous series, a monster/human romance set in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of America after monsters have invaded our realm and where humanity is at the brink. Each instalment follows a different human falling in love with a different monster as they try to survive in this new world.

The first book follows Danny, a soldier who is part of a frontal assault to capture a dangerous monster called, "The Soul Eater", who can turn into smoke and is immune to bullets. Against all odds, Danny is the only one in his unit to survive the encounter and The Soul Eater is transferred to a military compound with the rest of the captured monsters. The creature does not respond to any of the scientists trying to communicate with it and will only talk to Danny. Forced to enter the monster's cell, Danny tries to befriend it in the hopes of gaining vital intel about its species, where it comes from, and why it's killing so many humans at random. The monster reveals himself to be called Wyn and allowed himself to be captured to release his fellow monsters, and escapes with Danny in the ensuing chaos.

Now stranded in the wastelands with his kidnapper, assumed to be a traitor by his chain of command, and with nothing worth returning home to, Danny puts his lot with Wyn and follows him in his seemingly random trek across the desert to kill more people. Observing Wyn we slowly learn humanity has been plagued with a parasitic lifeform that infects its host and slowly takes over the brain, breeding before killing its host and infecting the next person. Wyn has not been slaughtering humans randomly, but targeting those infected by the parasites. Learning that Wyn and the other monsters are not evil puts a new perspective on Danny's worldview and they slowly develop feelings for each other.

This book kept showing up in every top m/m monster erotic list and is even a personal favourite of a friend of mine whose opinion I hold in high regard...so I feel bad for admitting I did not enjoy this book as much as I wanted to.

I don't know if it was the high expectations I had going in, but I found this story to be lacking in the world-building department. We spend a lot of time with our two main leads wandering the desert, scavenging supermarkets for canned food, hiding out in motels, killing the occasional parasite, and having freaky sex, but there's not a lot of plot after the first act beyond their growing relationship. We're not heading towards a set goal or objective. Wyn is not in any rush to kill the rest of the parasites and Danny has no ambition beyond wanting to live.

The book felt like an unfinished video game that was released anyway and is trying to sell you the rest of the game as DLC instalments. Do you want to visit the human camps? Well, you'll have to buy the DLC to explore that area of the map. Do you want to go see this portal that the army is guarding? There's a DLC for that coming out soon. Do you want to know what the deal was with that random purple people-eater who showed up for two chapters and walked right out of the plot? You'll have to read his story in his DLC to know who he is. Do you want to know what fuck was going on with the random five monsters that showed up in the last chapter to attack Danny and have nothing to do with the story we were just reading? Fuck you. Buy the sequel.

This book puts itself at a disadvantage by teasing these locations and characters that the reader will never see unless they read the rest of the series. This first book is the catalyst that unleashes the monsters from the compound who will have their own separate storylines, but that means our current main couple has no set pieces to explore so we keep hearing about these places without ever seeing them. There's no build-up to a giant nest that they're trying to get to or Danny developing into a competent Outlander. The only conflict they have are these two annoying military officers chasing after them and eventually capturing Danny and torturing him for information. This leads to a very confused ending where Danny is traumatized after this experience and Wyn comes to the conclusion Danny being with him will only bring him more pain, so they can't be together anymore. Danny stands up for himself and the two walk off into the sunset.

It's a nice sentiment, but Danny does not show signs that he can survive in this world without Wyn holding his hand. There's this theme introduced halfway through the book that Danny is not mentally strong enough to survive in this harsh wasteland and he will need to adapt quickly. The question becomes will Danny use his rifle and become a killer (The book defies Chekov's gun by giving out the protagonist a loaded gun and never letting him fire it. I give the author props for that subversion). The answer the book comes to is, Danny is mentally strong because he survived torture and stood up to a demon, so he can handle anything thrown at him...

...Except, Danny is not withholding information from the military because he's protecting Wyn or another demon, or even a group of human settlers, he's captured and brutally beaten because the military thinks he knows something. Danny isn't doing anything noble he's just been caught and slowly dying a painful death until Wyn arrives and rescues him. Danny didn't save himself, Wyn saved him. And in the final chapter when Danny is left alone in the hotel and ambushed by a group of monsters, he doesn't save himself, he beats one of them with a baseball bat, but the implication is they would have taken him if Wyn didn't show up in time to save him again.

The book ends on this triumphant note that Danny is going to be ok, but it gives no real evidence that Danny can take care of himself. He doesn't come to Wyn's rescue at any point or use any prior knowledge he's gained on their journey. He's the same person we started with only hardened by the cruelty he's been subjected to at the hands of other humans. I don't know if that's better or worse.

We had an entire book to show Danny learning survival skills that could help him in the wastelands, but he never learns how to hunt, track, forage, find water or build a shelter. We just keep going from town to town, sleeping in hotels and rummaging for food in abandoned supermarkets. The fact these places all conveniently have running water is the only reason he hasn’t died from dehydration. And it becomes a non-issue by the end because Wyn can just travel from one side of the coastline to the other and get Danny whatever he needs. Danny is walking through the waste for no goddamn reason. If Wyn can carry food, then he can carry Danny. They could have ended the book with them finding a cottage in the mountains and giving Danny a comfortable place to live. But no, Danny wants to wander the wastelands forever, even though monsters are around every corner. Danny is a dumbass.

I also hated the final page. One of my pet peeves when writing relationships is the "I was fated to fall in love with you". Unless the plot revolves around two characters strangled by the red string of fate, I hate that dynamic because it's such a lazy excuse for the author to not put any effort into writing a believable romance. You just have to take their word for it that these two are meant for each other.

I don't mind soul mates AUs in fanfiction, because I already know who these characters are and why their dynamic works for me. But with original characters, the author needs to get me on board with the romance, and I just don't buy it. The entire time I was reading this I was waiting for Wyn to answer the question, why is Danny so special? We know why he doesn't kill Danny in that original conflict. Wyn does not kill humans unless they attack first, and Danny going into shock and fainting was the only thing that saved his life. It's not that Danny had a good heart, he was just scared shitless. They don't bond during Wyn's time in captivity because the officers won't let Danny deviate from his script, so there's never a moment when he reaches out to Wyn and tries to make an actual connection with him on his terms. I initially assumed Wyn escaped his cell by turning into a shadow and somehow possessed Danny, and that's why the military thinks he's a traitor. But no, Wyn just wanted to take Danny with him because they're soulmates now.

And there are small things like that where the author didn't clarify what was happening early on that led me to overthinking certain plot points. For example, Danny tells the reader early on that none of the monsters we see in the compound have ever harmed a human. This made me think the military was in on some big conspiracy and was using the monsters as a red herring to blame them for the current state of the world. Only to then immediately witness monsters killing human soldiers outside of the compound.

Danny is also pro-monster before the book even begins despite this contradicting his backstory. He was raised in one of these military-governed cities on the coastline where the majority of humans have fled to, and are poor and homeless. Danny's mother dies in one of these cities and he's forced to join the military just to survive. His resentment for the military is justified, but not once does he blame the actual monsters who, as far as he's aware, are the reason the world has gone to shit. There could have been an actual story arc for Danny hating the monsters for what they’d done to humanity, and slowly learning through Wyn that it's more complicated than he thinks it is. Instead, the book goes out of its way to assure you Danny respects the monsters more than humans before he even meets Wyn. Why??? That might have been a character flaw, that he cares so little for humans he doesn’t give a fuck about them anymore, but we see through brief encounters he cares a great deal for people.

There's also this subplot where Wyn won't let Danny see his face, which still confuses me to this day because I don't know why he was hiding from Danny in the first place. Wyn says something to Edin about not having a normal human-like face and I don't know what he means by that. He has two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and a chin. What makes him less human than Edin? I think he was self-conscious about his facial scars. But Danny has not shown any discomfort about the scars on his body, so I don't know what the problem is. I might need to re-read that part again but he’s written as perfectly handsome by human standards.

I mean, I hated the reveal that he had a literal face behind that hood, but that's just me (stop giving my beautiful faceless boys faces!!!)

[fedonciadale]

How did your mind escaped POV trap from books? I mean, you mentioned it many time, like about that Daenerys is shown only with EVIL GUYS™ without depth and thats why she looks so sympathetic to reader. Or Sansa through eyes of Arya, where she really feels like empty shallow rich girl. I'm asking because thanks to YOU I noticed it. This traps, I mean. Really. I was Dany stan, that gone to anti-dany blogs to check why all of you hate her so much. Well, understand now. (1/3)

I mean, as you said earlier, many of Dany stans were catched into trap because of her hard upbringing and constant abuse from her brother (yeah, me too). And how we turn a blindside to all of her wrongdoings, because of said traps. I first watched the show, where all seasons showed how she is so nice, cute, if sometimes brash. I wanted her to be the Queen. And now I see what are you talking about. To be real, I feel now like I lost a friend. It's awful, but I prefer this (1½/2)

(2/2) delusional. Sorry for rant, but I'm feelin' uneasy for last few weeks. Dany was my favourite heroine of all times, and now...😢

Hi there!

Thanks for coming into my inbox! I am very happy that you reach out! I think it is fantastic that you looked up our theories and thought about it.

First of all, you are not alone in falling into the PoV trap. I did as well and I tell you why and how I untangled myself from it. Many books especially light fantasy books (and even others) do not work with the PoV trap. They just expect you to like the hero/heroine and follow them whatever they do. Take HP for example. By the seventh book Harry who is the hero of the book does a lot of questionable things (like casting unforgivable curses) and nothing of it is ever addressed. In the context of his last stand against Voldemoart it is all understandable and even forgivable, but nothing suggest that the author even wants you to question Harry’s actions. We are just supposed to root for him no matter what. So, I guess, we are not really accustomed to read with detailed judgement.

More under the cut...

I remember I once read a book by Kristen Britain, the Green Rider series, pretty traditional fantasy, and the fact that the enemies tortured the heroes was a major plot point. And half a book later they captured an enemy and began to torture him and I was like “What the fuck, you’re supposed to be the good guys!”. But it was never addressed and I think it was just one of those cases where the double standards for protagonists and antagonists were just taken for granted - which is lazy storytelling but I digress.

Now, I think we can agree that GRRM is not someone who takes his readers by the hand and explains everything. You have to be really alert while you read, to get all the hints. Even if you skip over the foreshadowing and everything you have to make a puzzle from the information you get from different PoVs. Nothing is just handed to you. Nowhere does GRRM say: BTW, Lysa Arryn is the one who killed Jon Arryn. So, he sort of trains his readers to read between the lines. But you can still read everything and not delve into it and let yourself be surprised by the twists and turns. You don’t need to think about every sentence to enjoy the books.

In a way this manner of writing is also the case for the PoV trap. GRRM wants his readers to form their own opinion, but it took me actually really long to get that he actually wants me to question the actions of the PoV characters.

When I first read AGOT I sort of fell into the PoV trap. I routed for Dany, I enjoyed Tyrion’s witticism, I thought Sansa was a brat etc. etc.

I remember quite vividly, when I began to dislike Dany - and I must stress that this was not the moment I noticed the PoV trap:

"Most of Ogo's riders fled," Ser Jorah was saying. "Still, there may be as many as ten thousand captives."         

Slaves, Dany thought. Khal Drogo would drive them downriver to one of the towns on Slaver's Bay. She wanted to cry, but she told herself that she must be strong. This is war, this is what it looks like, this is the price of the Iron Throne.    (AGOT, Daenerys VII)

I remember, that I thought something along the lines of: “Well, Dany, it’s your fault these people are enslaved, you want the throne. Maybe you should have thought about that earlier.”

This was the moment I began to dislike her, but I still thought that she was obviously the heroine. Because the last lines of the book was this:

As Daenerys Targaryen rose to her feet, her black hissed, pale smoke venting from its mouth and nostrils. The other two pulled away from her breasts and added their voices to the call, translucent wings unfolding and stirring the air, and for the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of dragons.     (AGOT, Dany X)

So, I thought: well, I don’t like her but it was not the first time that I did not like someone who was the protagonist of a book. It happens, and I usually brush over it, concentrating on the people I like.

In the second book I started to like Sansa. She won me over when she was so brave during the Battle of the Blackwater and from that moment I rooted for her although I feared that she was not important enough (you know, no sword and so son).

In the second book I got doubts about Tyrion, but I only began to dislike him in ASOS, when he killed Symon the singer for making eyes at Shae (and had him put into soup, yikes and double yikes).

And I still thought: O.k. Dany, Tyrion these are the main PoVs, certainly they will be important in bringing down the ice threat. Not once did I think that I was meant to realize their dubious actions. I thought it was all about them being a key in the destruction of the Others even if they were grey characters,

So I was still not onto the fact that the PoV trap was a thing....

At the end of ASOS I discovered some ASOIAF discussions and I came across the three dragonriders theory, Dany, Tyrion, Jon and Jonerys as endgame and I believed it all. I just believed it because this is how fantasy usually goes? Humanity against the evil menacing Others.

I did not like it very much though, not at all and I suppose the part of me that did not like it always was looking for other solutions.

When I read AFFC and ADWD I had sort of reluctantly accepted that I might not like the ending but I still read the books, because I wanted to see my favs and how they fared. I would accept Jonerys and the three dragonriders if my Starklings would just survive.

And then the show came out. I still didn’t like Dany, and some of her scenes made me cringe the Mhysa scene, that screams hubris and white saviour), but I still thought that she might be the hero. It was only during and after season 6 that I desperately looked for answers and chanced upon the idea that Jon and Sansa might be important and that Dany might be an antagonist. And it was only then that it clicked for me. I read the Meerenese blot and all that and I finally understood that there was a reason why I was uneasy when reading Dany’s chapters, a real reason, not just me being overly picky or just too morally sensitive to root for the heroes.

It was only then, that I realized the PoV trap for what it is - a clever way to make you root for a character and prepare the rug pull. As you can see it was a rather long journey for me!

And Dany wasn’t my hero, so how difficult must it be for someone who liked her. And to be quite honest with you, the show didn’t make it exactly easy to accept Dany’s turn, because although they did it, it could have been done much better!

And once it had clicked, there is no way back. Once you have understood something you cannot unsee that. So, if you feel like you lost a friend that is understandable.

It might be only a little consolation: This is what GRRM wants his readers to feel. The rug pull that happens once you realize you rooted for a tyrant. The doubt about your own ability to judge a person. The disappointment that a person you liked has misused your trust (in a way). You’re angry at Dany, really angry. You might be angry at GRRM that he duped you so well. That he knew how to get you, the bloody bastard.

So, I actually think it is o.k. to be flummoxed about the fact that can see that now. As if a veil was torn from your eyes, maybe. I think this is an important discovery: that we can be duped. That someone who uses nice words and apparently wants to make the world better can dupe us into believing them. It happens in real life and our only weapon against that is to be critical. To look closely, to think, and most of all to question ourselves.

Thanks for your ask! I was very moved that you came into my askbox for this!

[gleek-runner]

9/14/15/16/17/18

You waited so long and I'm giving you this trash, I'm sorry :(

9. Who is your favourite character to write?

That would be Jackson because I'm 99% projecting. (Ace! Awkward! A bean!)

14. Tell us about an upcoming scene in your WIP, that you're excited about.

In a moment of crisis, while they're both trapped, two of the main characters Beth and Kristen realize they're siblings and it's overall a very emotional/badass scene. If I had drawing skills I would make an animatic of it with Girl like you playing in the back.

15. Post a line from a WIP you're working on

"That we should not, in any case, read or will suffer a gruesome death?" Robert asked making his way towards his sister and snatching the book from her hands. "Cool, lets do it."

16. Give a spoiler for your WIP

Beth and William bump into Johnie near the end of the book (and something is off) so it's hinted that, in book 2, Johnie is one of the antagonists.

17. What's the last line you wrote for your WIP

"Once upon a time, a small town hidden inside the woods became the place where Spring died."

18. Give a brief character description of your main characters

We're talking about 5 books and a bunch of main characters so I'm going to talk about the 4 mains of the first book.

Beth: short dumbass. flirts with the dark side (literally) 24/7. an emotional wreck. lets her hair lose everytime she is in a bad mood. runs away from problems. weird pets but she loves them. does not get jokes. flustered.

William: character development be full of zig-zags. embodyment of "I love my wife". overthinker. tall tree. likes trees. hero archetype. "We have food at home". he tries but fails.

Kristen: the middle child is the most stable one. likes ballet. likes swords. she does not put the bi in bitch. will fall in love with anyone who looks at her for more than one second. holder of the Frost's family braincells. she's beauty. she's grace. @ Ed and Maria: she just needs some space (inside joke just for me). has hayley kiyoko playing inside her head 24/7.

Kathrin: THE REAL BRAINCELL HOLDER. stability. if she had magic the series would end in 10 pages. fight first think later. g i n g e r. is tired. the knight in shining armor. puts the Kat in catastrophe. lowkey/highey becomes a sugar daddy. when in danger, kick the danger!

[captain-aralias]

30 Days of Carry On - Day 25 and 26

closing in on the end of days now...

25. Favourite book cover design

@annabellelux​ calls this one identically too - the US paperback cover for ‘carry on’, accept no substitutes. 

she also raises some very good points about the ‘wayward son’ cover, viz:  I think Baz’s facial expression is so ????? And Simon’s smirk feels off given the content. 

again - i completely agree! now - i would say i overall like the covers anyway because the colour schemes are all beautiful, and simon is beautiful, and baz’s shirt is beautiful, but i have angsted about the downgrade from baz’s floral suit to the shirt before (why?). and even though it’s still kevin wada, i’m sure i’ve said... i dont like how brainless simon looks on the UK cover :/

what i haven’t explicitely said - but probably would say if i ever wrote a formal review of this book - is that the marketing is all wrong, in exactly the way that annabellelux describes. when the wayward son art dropped, people talked about how confident and tanned baz looked, and how capable simon looked - and then when the real wayward son art dropped, it looks like the golden, care-free roadtrip epilogue. 

and the name ‘wayward son’ is wrong as well - because ... it says this is a book about simon, whereas rainbow very clearly told us she intended it to be about baz. but simon is the wayward son who flew too high, right? 

now - is the marketing wrong, because i have five copies of this book if you count digital and audio editions? i mean - it isn’t. it effectively sold me many books. but it doesn’t tell me what the book is. 

i don’t know if would actually have made sense, but i keep thinking about a ‘wayward son’ (leave hte name for a moment) cover that looks more like this... (indigo, endpapers art)

but no fault to find with he american ‘carry on’ paperback. i’ve already talked about how much i love it. i love it.  

26. Do you want a movie? If yes - any fan casts for the movie?

yes. even if it was bad, i would want it, because a) it would generate more merchandise (please see my previous post about this) and b) you can’t watch a book. which sounds stupid, but what i mean is - sometimes (often) life is tiring. and you don’t want to do anything as energetic as read. i know we have the audiobook, and i do listen to it, but without visuals my brain thinks - what else could i be doing while i’m listening to this? which is not the point. 

so yes - i would like a movie. i have no fancasts, except... cary elwes from twenty years ago as the mage (or gareth thomas - not the rugby player - from even longer ago); hugh grant (obviously) as lamb - and because hugh grant, and because i once called her fifi in something i wrote, kristen scott thomas (twenty years ago too - this is never going to work) as fiona pitch. i’m sure like with harry potter, we could find some great british actors to do walk-on roles as teachers and parents amazingly. 

i have no idea who would play our heroes. it’s strongly implied in fangirl that it literally is potter.... but i think we can do better than (the extremely delightful in many ways) daniel radcliffe for simon. thank goodness we don’t need to cast him when he’s 11.

but also - i think my real answer is that i want it to be made into an anime series where every single detail of mundanity is lovingly rendered across 90 episodes of 20 minutes each. so many anime boys look like baz in some way, and i see them and think of him and how pretty he is, like they are, and that makes me think - baz is born for anime. we’d make it work for simon and penny somehow. 

All the other days. 

[aproblematicpanda]

IF YOU ARE BORED I WILL APPEAR: the 100 for the in depth fandom questions 💖💖

Excellent timing, I just sent you an ask, too! :D Thanks babe. <3 I feel like I have so much more to say than I just did but the inspiration seems to have bailed on me. Oh well. If you have any follow-up questions hmu!

Top 5 favorite characters: Octavia, Echo, Lexa, Lincoln, Murphy Other characters you like: Gaia, Raven, Emori, Monty, Harper, Diyoza Least favourite characters: Clarke, Abby, Kane Otps: Octavia and Lincoln, Lexa and Clarke, Bellamy and Echo Notps: Bellamy and Clarke, basically anything involving Abby Favourite friendships: Murphy and Raven, Monty and Jasper Favourite family: Spacekru Favourite episodes: 4x10, 5x02, probably more but I can’t really think of anything else right now (I appreciated 7x02 but I’m not quite sure yet if I’m gonna call it a favorite, that will depend on how the rest of the season turns out) Favourite season: Season 2 Favourite quotes: “We’re back, bitches!” “I don’t choose pain. I choose life.” “Not everyone. Not you.” “ You're the most beautiful broom in a broom closet of brooms.” “ I can't change the tide if the moon won't cooperate. It's basic physics.” (I’m including this last one because of an amazing Monty/Jasper gif set I saw once.) Best musical moment: Ehh... Well I stll tear up basically every time I hear Cloud by Elias, the song that played during Lincoln’s death scene. It’s an amazing song and anything related Lincoln’s death still gets to me, not just because of the characters but also because of everything that went on with Ricky and everything he was put through, it’s just... it’s a very loaded moment in the series as well as behind the scenes. I’m not sure ‘best’ is the right word here but it’s the moment I’m going with. Moment that made you fangirl the hardest: When Octavia became Skaikru’s champion. I found it rather poetic that a young woman who had been spat out by her community simply for being born was their only hope for survival. Plus, she looked incredible. When it really disappointed you: It’s not just ‘a moment’ but I’ve been really disappointed by the show’s treatment of Octavia and how its hypocrisy concerning other characters who have done way worse shit than Octavia yet they are patted on the back and protected for it by the narrative. It aggravates me. I’m not mad that Octavia has had it rough, when a character gets everything handed to them on a golden platter with no real consequences, that’s boring. But it makes me mad that she’s the only one who has to pay for her mistakes and none of the others have to, and the way the characters are now comfortable joking about what has been the most traumatizing, horrifying and scarring thing anyone has ever had to go through really pisses me off. Octavia deserves so much better, the show really dropped the ball here. I’m also extremely disappointed by the way the show handled Lexa’s death. Octavia survived a sword through the gut and falling off a big ass cliff, but Lexa can’t take a stray bullet in the presence of someone who is meant to be a doctor? I mean I get that this was supposed to prove that we’re all vulnerable and that even Lexa, Heda of the thirteen clans can’t escape death, but come on. Also the way Jason treated the Clexa fandom was gross. Saddest moment: The moment Bellamy called Octavia “the queen of cannibals”. Up until that point I held onto hope that things would get better, that the show would still turn things around, that everything Octavia had been put through would be put into perspective when she could tell the one she loved the most about the horrors the bunker put her through. But when Bellamy called her that, it was made clear that not only did he find out about the most traumatizing part of his sister’s life (and it’s not like it lacked trauma before) but he also didn’t care. It was the moment where I had to give up hope that they could ever get to a place where I would respect and care for their dynamic again and it made me sad, because Octavia deserved so much better. Most well done character death: Oh god, this is a difficult one, because I have issues with most of the main characters’ deaths lol. So I’m gonna go with Nia for this one, because I really liked that Lexa recognized who the real threat was and took matters into her own hands and did what she could to maintain the coalition. I can’t think of another death that I didn’t hate. Favourite guest star: Probably Jessica Harmon Favourite cast member: Marie Avgeropoulos Character you wish was still alive: Lincoln, hands down. So many things would be different right now if he had still been around. One thing you hope really happens: I hope Bellamy and Echo are endgame and not just that, I also hope that the show will allow Bellamy to treat Echo with the love and respect she deserves. Because so far the show hasn’t really shown their relationship much respect and most of the effort is coming from Echo’s side and I don’t care much for that. Bellamy clearly loves her a lot, so I hope the writers will let him show and prove that to us in the final season. Most shocking twist: I don’t really think the 100 is good at shocking twists? You see most of them coming from miles away lol. When did you start watching: When it came out, basically. :) Best animal/creature: Helios! Favourite location: Ehh... I’m gonna go with the dropship or Arkadia, not because I love those places so much but because they’re where the show’s best seasons (one and two) basically happened. Trope you wish they would stop using: BYG One thing this show does better than others: Pissing off its fanbase! :’D Funniest moments: Most of Monty and Jasper’s interactions in the earlier seasons, those two were amazing. Couple you would like to see: I wish the show would make Niylah and Octavia a thing even if I don’t passionately ship it. I also became a huge fan of Clarke and Gaia! Actor/Actress you want to join the cast: I really don’t know anyone for this question... I’m a big fan of Kristen Stewart so I’d probably be thrilled with that, but it’s not something that I actively want or anything. Favourite outfit: Ehh... As much as I hate to say this, Clarke does get the best outfits and I think I’m gonna go with the dress she wore early in season 6. I’m also a huge fan of Octavia’s grounder look bw. Favourite item: Lincoln’s diary Do you own anything related to this show: Nope What house/team/group/friendship group/family/race etc would you be in: Well I don’t know which one I would be in, but Spacekru or Trikru seem like the most fun so I’d want to be a part of one of those! Most boring plotline: I never really cared for the City of Light although I will admit that storyline had a lot of potential, I’m just not sure the show really handled that well? Most laughably bad moment: The fact that Clarke just becomes anyone’s leader anywhere while not doing anything for it. And how fast she was forgiven and integrated into Spacekru in season 6 while doing the bare minimum to work for their forgiveness and showing no signs of remorse or wanting to change. Best flashback/flashfoward if any: I really liked the flashbacks of Octavia’s childhood, they did a good job of portraying what life had been like for her and it helped us understand her character better, even if they were short and limited to one episode. I also really enjoyed watching Octavia during those ten years in Skyring, but I’m not sure those qualify as a flashback and I do have some issues with them, still, so I’m gonna go ahead and stick with 1x06. Most layered character: Octavia, hands down Most one dimensional character: Oh god, how do I answer this... Of the core group I guess I would go with Raven. And that isn’t because I don’t love her, because I very much do, it’s the show’s fault for not really digging into anything that’s related to her. She’s just in the background until they need her to fix a problem they’ve been having or until they need someone to be tortured, or lately when they need to make Clarke look less horrible. She just doesn’t really get much else to work with, we don’t know what motivates her, we barely see her feel a type of way about the things she’s put through and when she does get a voice, it’s obviously meant to create sympathy for other characters so... yeah. Scariest moment: I don’t find it a very scary show hahaha. Grossest moment: The graphic scene of Lincoln’s execution, it was in such poor taste, especially considering everything that had been going on with Jrot and Ricky. Best looking male: Murphy Best looking female: Octavia and Echo Who you’re crushing on (if any): Octavia and Echo Favourite cast moment: Ehh, I don’t really keep up with the cast so idk? I did love Marie calling Echo Octavia’s sister-in-law though. Favourite transportation: None I think, I don’t really care? Most beautiful scene (scenery/shot wise): The one that comes to mind right away is the one of Octavia swimming towards the surface after she ran into the anomaly, it’s just such a pretty shot. Other than that, well, The 100 is shot in a beautiful environment so a lot of their scenery is gorgeous but I just immediately thought of this one. Unanswered question/continuity issue/plot error that bugs you: Jason’s blabbing about the damn worms. The way 3x01 felt completely disconnected from everything that happened in 2x16 also still bugs me. And how it feels as if the new writers never really saw the previous seasons and instead just read character descriptions, I feel like they didn’t really grasp the relationships and stuff like that in season 6. Best promo: Ehh, I usually just watch the episodes so I don’t really have an opinion about this. Loved the uproar the one for season 7 caused, though, because I’m a sucker for drama hahaha. At what point did you fall in love with this show/book: As soon as I met Octavia, she’s my baby and you will have to take her from my cold. dead. hands.

Send me a show/fandom and I’ll answer

[addictedforbooksquad]

F A V O U R I T E  R E A D S : 2 0 1 8

Happy New Year, everyone! We hope will this turn out to be a wonderful year for you and that many amazing books await you ❤️

With 2018 behind us, we’ve prepared a list of our favourite reads from last year - all the books we read and loved, regardless of publication date.

And what about you, our fellow bookworms? Which books made it to your list?

The Folk of the Air series (The Cruel Prince + The Wicked King) by Holly Black - 2018 went off to an EXCELLENT start with The Cruel Prince and then we’ve been incredibly lucky to have an opportunity to read The Wicked King as well. Spoiler alert! TWK is even better than the first book ;)

The Divine Cities Series (City of Stairs) by Robert Jackson Bennett - this world of gods in a sort of modern setting is SO worth exploring!

Foolish Kingdoms by Natalia Jaster - if we were to name one thing we’re thankful for, it’s discovering Natalia Jaster’s books! They’re intriguing, they’re beautifully-written, they have complex layered characters...what more could one wish for?

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo - enemies-to-lovers and bloodthirsty mermaids? How could we ever say no to that?

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik - fantasy retelling full of badass women? Umm, sign us up IMMEDIATELY!

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo - fairy tales retold in this unique Leigh Bardugo way. Packed with intriguing spins on the original stories and important life truths.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang - this cute and heart-warming romance definitely melted our hearts. Plus, it has both our favourite tropes and lots of representation.

All for the Game by Nora Sakavic - hello, we’ve adopted nine problematic children. There’s no turning back now.

The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski - high fantasy with political intrigue, morally-grey characters, badass female characters and a mix of Slavic mythology, fairy tales and Arthurian legends...#EnoughSaid

Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman - it might be heart-breaking but it’s worth every single tear

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - not only is this an excellent read, it’s also an important one

Luna and the Lie by Mariana Zapata - angst + boss/employee romance + age difference? Mariana Zapata knows all our weaknesses for sure.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata - boss/employee and fake married tropes with the slowest burn ever. It’s so worth the wait though.

Kulti by Mariana Zapata - slow burn sports romance with age difference. Yup, yup, we dig it!

Everless by Sara Holland - we couldn’t predict a damn thing in this book! Full of plot twists and mystery, it’s the ultimate page-turner.

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren - this was such a perfect mix of cute, sexy and funny! We’re not always a fan of friends-to-lovers trope but this one is done so right.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer - as you might’ve guessed already, we love retellings with a spin and interesting female characters. And this series has lots of both!

Warcross by Marie Lu - this has POC rep, hackers, video games and futuristic setting. What a trip!

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab - wonderfully spooky and so much fun. And what’s even more spooky is just how amazing a writer Victoria Schwab is 😍

Forbidden Hearts series (Hate to Want You + Wrong to Need You) by Alisha Rai - with all the interesting characters, diversity and a very appealing way the author includes consent in her smut scenes, Alisha Rai’s books are so very worth of attention!

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus - murder drama with Breakfast Club vibes. So cool!

Ruby Red trilogy by Kerstin Gier - this is just such a wonderful journey and everyone should buy the tickets :)

Villains series by V. E. Schwab - this one has definitely been one of our very fave series; with morally-grey characters (which we love) and anti-hero storylines (which we love even more), it makes for one twisted perfect tale.

From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata - what this list has proven so far is that when it comes to contemporary romance, Mariana Zapata is the way to go for us. And this one is no exception. Also, virtuemoir feels!

VIP series by Kristen Callihan - a series with a focus on music and a fabulous ensemble of characters. The latest, “Fall”, is our numero uno but “Idol” and “Managed” have been a true pleasure to read as well.

Starcrossed series (Bad Romeo + Broken Juliet) by Leisa Rayven - oh-so-angsty but also oh-SO-GOOD

Legend series by Marie Lu - dystopian setting with enemies to lovers trope and a fantastic...dare we say..legendary ending...

Dearest series by Lex Martin - especially “Kissing Madeline”, sports romance with friends with benefits trope and some really good relationship development.

Sadie by Courtney Summers - this book might not be the easiest to read but it deals with a lot of relevant and important issues, like pedophilia and sexual abuse. It’s difficult but it makes you think.

Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy - the ultimate sports romance series! For one, it’s full of cool tropes we love. And what’s more, it’s also full of fun, great characters, hilarious moments and steamy sexy times.

Stalking Jack the Ripper series (Stalking Jack the Ripper + Hunting Prince Dracula) by Kerri Maniscalco - while the latest book in this series, “Escaping from Houdini”, hasn’t been our favourite, we fell in love with Audrey Rose and Thomas right from the start and we’re here to stay

Shades of Magic series by V. E. Schwab - Delilah Bard said “I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still” and we’d rather give up half our bookcase than pass on a chance to read this series

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum - this young adult contemporary romance is JUST SO CUTE, it makes us all warm inside

[internetremix]

This is for everyone what is your favorite anime mine is Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood which was my first anime.

Phill: Boku no pico. Look it up.

Kristen: Pfffft you monster

Atwas: I don't watch a lot of anime cause I can consume more through reading rather than watching... I really enjoyed One Punch Man and Little Witch Academia though. I think those are the only two I've actually watched in recent memory (mostly because they weren't huge time investments...) I've been meaning to watch Mob Psycho 100 but I haven't gotten to it yet.

Jojo: Either soul eater, or assassination classroom. (I also love FMA)

Kristen: I love One Punch Man. I've heard Mob Psycho 100 is good but like, The Stars Are Never in Position.

I have two favorite animus of all time, Madoka and the Monogatari series. Both are Shaft animu so ART. Madoka's writing is just so well done and it has THEMES and I love the characters and listen I love Homura and Madoka so much I have like the fancy figurines like a huge nerd I JUST THINK THEY'RE SO COOL and also the gay and shut up.

I talk a lot about the Monogatari series because it really means a lot to me. It's some of the most thoughtful media I've ever watched, some of the best character studies I've ever seen. The writing and visual presentation are so good and there's a lot of themes about mental health and personal growth and i could write a book and multiple scholarly essays about my thoughts and feelings on Monogatari. I based MG's design off of one of the characters cause I just love her so much and the character is very much a wish fulfillment thing for me.Monogatari also features some of the worst fanservice bits I've ever seen. Just abysmal. This is the anime with the infamous Toothbrushing Scene and I fucking hate it. Like. It's frustrating because in some ways I can see how these fanservice scenes have bits of character to them? And most of  the series is from the perspective of a teenage boy and so much of the show is essentially about different perspectives and how people see the world. But those scenes aren't about the justification and you know it, the camera tells me regardless of how platonic the characters may be (or sexually charged depending on the characters), this is meant to be tittilating for me the viewer, and if it isn't then don't you worry there's another girl in the harem for you, you fucking creep. And I just despise that.

So yeah Monogatari has both the greatest Animu writing and is A R T but also has the worst goddamn fanservice and thus I cannot recommend it to anyone who has a problem with the latter. Which is incredibly frustrating. Anyway thanks for coming to my TED talk.

Also side not Soul Eater is SO GOOD mmmm that style. Also Maka is just... the fucking best. She's so cool.

Juno: Lupin III

Alex: Gregory Horror Show and Aggretsuko

Split: Fma:b Cant get enough of that sweet ass alchemy

Juno: dog girl joke

Split: Juno its science its fine

Juno: Something something unbreakable bond between girl and dog something something

Split: Absolutely, super unbreakable now. Practically inseperable.

Kristen: Oh no. Outrage. How could you.

Split: For science.

Alex: I love how Dog Girl is slowly becoming like Loss in that only the barest components are necessary to get the reference

Juno: me: nina alexander

everyone: D

me: doge.... gril

everyone: D

Phill: I'm a big fan of most mainstream anime (one punch man, mob psycho 100, monster girls, naruto, dragonball (og, z, gt, super), etc) . Especially one piece. I've been a fan of one piece since 2005. Every new episode/chapter/movie I watch the instant I am able.

As for not so mainstream;Golden boy, golden time, full metal panic, working!!, ouran high school host club, bacono, I'd be here for every trying to remember the rest tbh

Oh! And a myriad of hentai.

Tex: My first anime was Death Note, but my favourite is Gurren LagannCan't get enough of that stupid anime mecha bs. Oh shit i keep forgetting to mention psycho-pass but i fuckin love that anime too. The 2nd series was just ok. But the FIRST. HOO BOY.

Scott: Favorite anime is Death Parade. I typically enjoy more comical and lighthearted shows, but this one is one of the very few exceptions. It tells a really fascinating story with themes of life and death, the concept of morality, and human emotions. I highly recommend it.

In total contrast, my second favorite would be Assassination Classroom.

Tex: ass class

Toonwolf: oh god anime is one of those things where I get really weird and even if I like the thing I'll watch like 2-3 episodes and then never continue it. Ass Class is absolutely one of those and I loved what I saw and just never continued and would probably be one of my favs. As for anime I've actually committed time to, Gurren Lagann is definitely top tier A+ love it and I'll always have a special place in my heart for One Piece. When I wanna feel depressed, my fav is Wolf's Rain

Uprising: I second death parade also cells at work. wait also the castlevania anime on netflix ive bene marathoning that

Phill: Good

[bookcub]

11 Questions

I got tagged in a bunch of these, so I’m doing them in one go XD

@aliteraryprincess‘s questions 

What was your most anticipated book of 2018?  Did it live up to your expectations? Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor!!! And yes, it did. I thought it was amazing, great book and great conclusion. 

What’s your first read of 2019? Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

Any favorite TV shows based on books? I’m more about comic books becoming tv series. I was into The 100 for a while, but I dropped it in season 3. 

What was the last book you read in translation? Oh, The Mulatto maybe? It’s a short story and I’m pretty sure it was originally written in French. I liked it a lot and it was about slavery and a low key thriller. 

If you could have a pet from any book/series, what would you want? Okay, so he’s not a pet, he is Sylvie’s best friend, but Ebon from Pegasus. Because I will always want a pegasus bff. 

Are there any genres that you never read? I say horror, but I read the more psychological stuff. And I rarely read non fiction, but I will read it every now and then. I keep saying I’ll never read New Adult again, but I keep getting intrigued by the synopsis and I’m always disappointed. 

Do you have a favorite classic? Anne of Green Gables is a classic, right? Cause that’s my favorite. But I like quite a few. 

What book-to-movie adaptation would you completely remake?  Why? Percy Jackson!!! Although, I’d just record the musical, which was brilliant on 18 different levels. The movie completely missed the point of the books, misinterpreted all the characters, and  the plot made no sense??? Musial was much better. 

What was your least favorite read of 2018? Enemies Like These by PK Gardner, maybe? It was painful to read. 

Are there any authors whose books you automatically buy no matter what? Brigid Kemmerer and Sarah Rees Brennan. 

What was the last book you bought? I don’t buy many books. I either get them at book sales or on a rare treat. I usually go to the library. But I think it was .69 for the complete collection of Anne of Green Gables as an e collection. Or the short story Atoning by Kelley Armstrong, spin off to Darkest Powers. Can’t remember which I bought first. Unless you want to count books I buy for school. Then The Last September, which I never read. 

@booklisted‘s questions

1. Who do you always trust to give you book recommendations? My mom XD. Although are tastes have started to differ more as I have gotten older.

2. What do you look for in a bookstore? I don’t go to book stores. And theres only one local one and it’s . . . fine. But I don’t trust BAM. 

3. What is a book you loved as a child, only to go back to it as an adult and not like? Turns out baby me and adult me see eye to eye on most books. This wasn’t when I was a child per se, but I did like House of Night when I first read it and now I hate it. The whole series is ridiculous. I read EIGHT of them, what a waste of time. 

4. What is a book you thought you were going to hate, but then were surprised by? Hmmm, most classics I like. I didn’t expect to love The Storyteller as much as I do. Thought it was going to be predictable fluff. 

5. What book did you identify with most strongly as a teenager? Like, every other book I picked up.

6. Did you have phases of reading certain types of books growing up? Describe them! I haven’t outgrown any reading phases. I still love fantasy, children’s and YA. I just keep expanding them. 

7. Have you ever received a book as a present or recommendation which you didn’t like? Did you tell the person? Pretty sure yes. But I can’t think of any examples. 

8. Have you met any of your favourite authors? If so, who? I met V E Schwab at a book signing. She was nice. 

9. If you are reading something written originally in a different language, how much do you care about the translation/translator? A lot!!! I started this one book, The Book Jumper. The translation was sloppy and stiff and choppy. It felt like a child wrote it. I couldn’t read more than a few chapters. The Storyteller was stunningly translated, straight up lyrical. Very easy to read and I got lost in the writing. Pretty sure they were both German too. 

10. What is the strangest book you’ve ever read? Hm. I want to say The Dust of 100 Dogs by A. S. King. It was about a girl who was cursed to live 100 lives as a dog before she could be human again. Most of it was her 102nd life when she was a girl again. She referenced her past lives, and went to search for her treasure and her hopefully reincarnated boyfriend. Not bad. But strange. 

11. One book you would give a 12y/o child to read? One??? Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kristen Miller cause it’s amazing and most people give 12 year olds books about boys and a lot of the same ones over and over. 

@thereadingchallengechallenge‘s questions

What’s your favourite book at the moment? I always go back to The Name of the Wind

Did you read all the books you wanted to in 2018? Lol NOPE 

Did you discover any new favourite authors or books this year? 

Any book recommendations? We could be here all day, just check myy-book-recs tag for more detailed recs. 

What’s your favourite fairy tale? Probs Beauty and the Beast 

Are you looking forward to any new releases? Brigid Kemmerer’s new book 

What genre do you read the most? YA cause I can’t stop 

What’s your favourite book-to-movie adaptation? Stardust cause I like the movie more. And To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. 

Any reading or book-related goals for 2019? My goodreads challenge is like 70 books. 

What do you think will be your last read of 2018? It was Dumplin 

Have you read any books by Australian authors? Yes, Marianne Curley who wrote the Guardians of Time. A few others, but I forget them now. 

@darkestwings‘s questions 

Do you have any pets? Nope 

What is your favorite thing about winter? SNOW!!! COLD!!!! BLANKETS!!!! COCO!!!! 

What was the last book you read? Puddin’ by Julie Murphy 

Talk about a fictional character who inspires you. Recently, Millie from Puddin’. She is so motivated and organized and determined and optimistic. I adored her!!! 

What is your number one pet peeve? I don’t know, so many things. Chewing with your mouth open bothers me to no end 

What is something you are proud of? . . . I can cook okay and bake better. 

Share some good advice you have received. It’s okay to fail

What is the last thing you bought (not counting groceries)? Movie tickets to Mary Poppins Returns 

Share the most useless piece of trivia you know. Dolly Parton was inspired to write “I Will Always Love You” after she wanted to leave a business relationship. Also, Elvis wanted the rights to the song but wasn’t willing to give her royalties. Whitney Housten made a much better deal, both crediting her and bringing the song to new levels. 

What was your first job? I volunteered at a library 

What rating system do you use for books? Five stars but I just kind of wing it. I’m not crazy consistent. 

[sthayil]

2020 Reading Goal Outcomes

Goal: 52 books in 2020, re-reads don’t count, romance novels don’t count, and read at least half non-fiction.

Result: 53 books, but only 14 non-fiction. Will try again next year!

Half girlfriend, by Chetan Bhagat. My first time reading this author, which half of India seems to love to hate. An easy read that still had me reflecting on elitism, English, and privilege in India.

Coming out as Dalit, by Yashica Dutt. A heartfelt memoir on caste-based discrimination in India. A very close-hitting book, and I had never thought about caste until I attended the Jaipur Literary festival and heard Dutt speak. I didn’t know the caste of any of my Indian friends, and realised that I probably did not know anyone who was Dalit, and didn’t know anyone who was “out” as Dalit. I thought that the Syrian Christian community was post-caste, but actually we are complicit in upholding caste-based discrimination through the centuries. This book will stay with me for a long time.

The Receptionist, by Janet Groth. A memoir of the author’s decades as receptionist at the New Yorker. I didn’t realise how segregated New York used to be. Got the feeling that this was written for a specific group of people. Favourite quote: “Anyone who cries as easily as you do is pretty tough. You don’t give an inch; you give only tears.”

First They Killed My Father, by Loung Ung. Devastating account of the author’s childhood in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime and genocide.

Bright Stain, by Francesca Bell. Brutal, graceful collection of poetry. “Let me tell you, at forty-two, it is a deep delicious pleasure not to be dewy or fresh as a fucking daisy.”

Homeland, by R. A. Salvatore.

Exile, by R. A. Salvatore.

Sojourn, by R. A. Salvatore. Found a new fantasy author I want to keep following! Only new to me though, R. A. Salvatore is one of the masters of fantasy and his world The Forgotten Realms is apparently very popular in games. This is the first trilogy in his series and I really enjoyed it. Will continue to read from this world.

Dreamer’s Pool, by Juliet Marillier.

Tower of Thorns, by Juliet Marillier.

Den of Wolves, by Juliet Marillier. Rediscovered one of my favourite authors from high school, when I realised the New York public library has a search and hold system so I can request particular books I want! This series was deeply satisfying, there’s nothing better than reading a new series by a beloved author.

The Reproach of Hunger, by David Rieff. A searing critique of the current global food system and the world of development. One hand trying to fix problems the other created. Nothing but a strengthening of the state and deepening of democracy will fix the mess we are in.

Roar, by Cecelia Ahern. A collection of wonderful short stories of women in magical realist situations based on common expressions. Eg. The Woman Who Wore Her Heart on Her Sleeve is a small story about a medical miracle who literally wore her heart on her sleeve. The Woman With A Strong Suit is about a woman who literally searches an entire department store for the perfect suit. Adorable but powerful stories of the voices of women and the bizarre lives we lead in the modern world.

Can You Tolerate This, by Ashleigh Young. A poet’s first non-fiction work, a collection of essays about her life and memories in mainly NZ, along with interesting stories she hears/reads about from elsewhere. I most liked the first story about the skeletal disease, and the long memory of her brother’s Big Red sweater.

A New Dawn, by Various. I feel like I’m cheating by adding this to my non-fiction count. It’s a collection of essays by popular authors, reacting to the Twilight series. Very light reading.

The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm, by Christopher Paolini. A set of short stories that takes place after the Inheritance cycle! I didn’t know he kept writing! This was so exciting to find. A lovely return to a series I read and reread for years when growing up.

Catwoman Soulstealer, by Sarah J. Maas. Saw another book by Maas at the library and had to pick it up. She is always a winner.

The Uses and Abuses of History, by Margaret MacMillan. Never take history simplistically, and that if you go in looking for proof for your plan, there are sufficient examples in history to find what you are looking for. So always be careful.

The Financial Diet, by Chelsea Fagan and Lauren Have. I watch their Youtube channel, so it was nice seeing their book on the shelf here at my sublet. A quick and easy read especially if you watch their videos. Intuitive and reassuring stuff.

Men Explain Things to Me, by Rebecca Solnit. Collection of feminist essays.

Poison Princess, by Kresley Cole

Endless Knight, by Kresley Cole

Dead of Winter, by Kresley Cole

Day Zero, by Kresley Cole

Arcana Rising, by Kresley Cole

The Dark Calling, by Kresley Cole. Kresley Cole’s first YA series, still quite good, but the final book is still not out! Will have to wait for next year to finish this. I would not have started if I realised it wouldn’t end in time.

One Day We’ll All Be Dead And None Of This Will Matter, by Scaachi Kaul. Collection of essays by an Indian Immigrant to Canada. I was fortunate to grow up in Asia. What is my dominant exposure? Did I ever have one?

Doing It, by Hannah Witton. A good book for folks with limited sex ed. My main takeaway is how depressing the side effects list is for almost all methods of female contraception.

Post-Truth, by Matthew D’Ancona. A political and philosophical manifesto, examining what is going on today, and a call for us to challenge it. Facts must be presented in both an emotional and rational way in order to prevail.

Dark Currents, by Jacqueline Carey

Autumn Bones, by Jacqueline Carey

Poison Fruit, by Jacqueline Carey. Found another author whose YA fiction I hadn’t read before. The Terre D’Ange series is still my favourite, but this is good too.

Santa Olivia, by Jacqueline Carey

Saints Astray, by Jacqueline Carey. Another win for Carey!

The Dragon Keeper, by Robin Hobb

Dragon Haven, by Robin Hobb

City of Dragons, by Robin Hobb

Blood of Dragons, by Robin Hobb. So happy to have found a new author! This was a great fantasy series, and for once the dragons were not perfect glorious creatures, but just another species in the world. Will keep reading Hobb.

Eating Animals, by Jonathan Safran Foer. This was good but the topic is so awful. I was off chicken for weeks after reading this and still haven’t fully come back. I’m really thinking about going more and more towards vegetarianism now. 

Pop Empires: Transnational and Diasporic Flows of India and Korea, edited by Allison Alexy, Monika Mehta, Robert Ji-Song Ku, S. Heijin Lee. I finally got around to reading this after attending the book signing in NYC ages ago, and this was such a good collection! I so much enjoyed the different slices of analysis from film, anthropology, history, etc.

The Crystal Shard, by R. A. Salvatore

Streams of Silver, by R. A. Salvatore

The Halfling’s Gem, by R. A. Salvatore. I can see why people like this author, but I wish I had found him earlier, maybe in my early teens. Then I think I would have really loved it. Reading this as an adult just makes me think of other fantasy series where there were higher stakes and the characters were not so perfect all the time. There is a lot of good adventure here, but not much emotion.

Canticle, by R. A. Salvatore

In Sylvan Shadows, by R. A. Salvatore. I spoke too soon. I complained of perfection with Drizzt, but Cadderly’s sheer wimpyness is driving me insane. He’s too good for war, he has “compassion”, but it’s all well and good for all his friends to go to war and kill people, just not precious Cadderly.

Night Masks, by R. A. Salvatore. Alright, he’s starting to grow up, but he is still incredibly squeamish about getting his own hands dirty and the hypocrisy of it is very irritating.

The Fallen Fortress, by R. A. Salvatore.

The Chaos Curse, by R. A. Salvatore.

The Legacy, by R. A. Salvatore.

Starless Night, by R. A. Salvatore. I think I’ll pause here for a bit. Too much Salvatore for me. There are 30 books in this series alone. 

Zelaldinus, by Irwin Allen Sealy. A wonderful amalgamation of bits and pieces of prose and poetry to do with a ghost of Jalaluddin Akbar.

Blood Rights, by Kristen Painter. Started a new series to feed my Maas withdrawals. It’s just okay so far.

Flesh and Blood, by Kristen Painter.

[littlebluerexi]

It's May 20th....i have no clue of what I've written... and i think it's nothing... like i un-did all the good I did in April.. So.... this might be a very chaotic catch-up... and uh... if you want to read this bear with me yanno...

Books (This'll be a short-ish list)

- The Goldfinch !!! I FREAKING FINALLY FINISHED THAT BOOK. HOLY SHIT IT WAS LONG. SO SO LONG. And so so totally beautiful. Maybe it was because it was so long to read but the way you were able to fall in love with every little thing, get to truly see Theo through his worst and give the dumb cynic whatever resembled hope in the end... it was beautiful. Donna tells stories of humans who fall in love with things, an idea, art. They are completely infatuated. It's so desirable. Then, she shows us the downside of loving them so. Of consuming all these things deeply into your soul. How you are sure to be affected. Everyone says "it's good but long" and i agree it would have been fine with a couple thousand words less, but... I dunno... I just truly believe that because of all those words we were so surrounded in that universe and able to truly live as painfully and stupidly as Theo did.

- 1, 2 & 3 Books in the Harry Potter series! AHHHH This is so fun so far! I can really tell what made people love this, I mean Philosopher's stone was kinda very obviously.... well... It's only getting better! CoS was an improvement and Prisoner of Azkaban too! I see why it's a lot of people's favourite.

- a couple Jeffery Archer short stories which was... pretty cool... but more as an idea. You finish reading them and you have this very plain... average feeling. His characters, surely might relate to SOMEONE but I doubt it, the writing is easy enough to read but the stories tended to be very boring. More interesting after you're done reading and you're THINKING about it.

However, got to give it to the dude for completely having fun with writing and maybe something from later on in the Year of Short Stories, will be seen as improvement.

Movies - LOT

- Goldfinch - not that great Because, we sprt of swerve through the entire thing i wanted it to be good but... eh... it was very eh... but the actors were good. i completely blame the script and the... director???? anyways

- Ladybird - This was so..... Atypical! It's like it took a very common trope of a movie and just messed it up in a very fun way! Honestly I don't know how to feel about this because it's like... we just got a sort of year in the life type thing. I need to go look at reviews for it because.. i know i found it really cool but I sort of need to know why

- I FINISHED GILMORE GIRLS AHHHH 7 SEASONS ARE OVER AND NOW YAYY! It wrapped in a lil box of stars hollow wholesome-ness and Lorelei deserved better mah dudes :"( but also like her GROWTH. It was was very fun.

- Barbie movies! mostly I've seen clips and songs but specifically 12 dancing princesses and fashion fairytale BARBIE IS VERY BADASS AND COOL I STAN

- Finding Nemo 2x IT'S SUCH A GOOD AMD CUTE MOVIE 🥺 Pixar is spectacular.

- Miss congeniality. Sandra Bullock. that's it.

- The Incredibles! again.... P I X A R I love so much. I need to watch part 2

- Also i very suddenly marathoned Twilight and... BAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA i can't even. I had one reason (Kristen Stewart) and i don't even know if i regret it... because... wowza.

- Also re-watching b99 again and my heart is happy every time i see their faces.

- Same feeling when i watch odaat 🥺

- also the new Charlie's Angels. and i mean... i loved it... and it was really cool and all and Kristen Stewart... but like... WHY'D THEY RUIN THE MYSTERY OF CHARLIE SORTA... oof it was pretty entertaining though and after that I'm inspired to watch more action movies (SLOWLY NO BINGES I GOTTA CATCH UP ON OTHER THINGS) and in true akshu fashion i made a list! lemme know if yu want to see it. it's pretty basic tho xD.

wow OKEY! THAT'S A LOT THAT HAPPENED ALSO

- My showing her true utter love amd admiration for Kalidasa when I told her that i was reading a bit of him and how he is so in love with everything around him in the best way. like she actually went feral for that and like wow... my mom is COOL

- SIX: THE MUSICAL ahhhhh! I love MUSICALS BASED ON HISTORY. I LIVE IT SO MUCH. And I'm inspired to write a fanfic Au of K. Howard being bi and falling for her lady in waiting or something 0_0

- The Lightning Thief: The musical! I LISTENED TO THIS IN HONOR OF PERCY JACKSON GETTING IT'S OWN DISNEY PLUS SHOW AND AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH GUYS I CAN'T EVEN BREATHE THIS IS THE BEST FREAKING NEWS EVER AND TOPPED WITH HAMILTON COMING OUT IN JULY AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGHH BESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTB-

okay... uhm well as i was saying... the campfire song is lit and Drive just makes me happy okay done.. i believe i have sufficiently caught everything up- OOOH i watched Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan and it was so funny and cute. THOROUGHLY Enjoyed it.

yikes okay. well i love y'all hope you have a great day and just... kinda ignore this lmao

[glenngaylord]

MY MOMENTS OUT OF TIME IN FILM 2018

Instead of a Top 10 List, every year I like to honor a long-discontinued but influential annual column from Film Comment magazine. I couldn’t wait for my father to come home from work with the “Moments Out Of Time” issue.  The writers would cite their favorite scenes, images, or lines of dialogue, even from films they may not have liked, because let’s face it, even bad films may have a great moment or two.  This was a great year in film, although I admit some of my favorite moments were films or series made for television.  Whether it’s Alex Borstein wielding her trusty plunger around the Catskills in THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL or Amy Adams waking up from a drunken stupor in the unforgettable SHARP OBJECTS, these shows had more indelible scenes than all of the Marvel and DC superhero movies combined.  

Still, I found myself lucky enough to see the staggeringly beautiful ROMA twice in a theater, because seeing it on Netflix doesn’t do it justice.  If that’s your only option, however, see it and see it with its glorious empathy oozing out of every frame.  EIGHTH GRADE took me by surprise with its unassuming, off-the-cuff filmmaking style.  Beneath that I found an aching, contemporary story of a young girl dying to connect with somebody, anybody…her cracked phone an apt metaphor for a world in which our societal sickness lies buried in an addiction to our screens.  PADDINGTON 2, even more so than its wonderful predecessor, gave us the immigrant experience from an accident-prone, marmalade-loving cuddly bear who just wants to unite everyone.  BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, despite its Powerpoint presentation of a story, oozed with so much emotion, the joy of creating, the beauty of people seeing you, and the sheer nostalgia of it all, I found myself crying throughout.  A STAR IS BORN, while imperfect,  had moments of such gorgeousness, especially the undeniable chemistry of its leads, it’s my prediction to win the Best Picture Oscar.  VICE, another Oscar front runner, had fantastic performances and was nonstop fun, but, for me, didn’t quite lick the enigma of Dick Cheney and demonstrated some juvenile instincts of its writer/director.  

I saw a ton of films, but even I can’t see them all.  I missed SHOPLIFTERS, BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE, BEAUTIFUL BOY, and BURNING, among many others…but will catch up with them soon.  So having said that, here, in no particular order, are my Moments Out Of Time In Film for 2018:

Gabe invites Kayla over for a “first friend hangout” dinner of chicken nuggets and beautifully lived-in, awkward, nerdy charm, telling this lovely, insecure young girl, “You are awesome” - melting all of our hearts with that sweet, simple declaration. It’s one of the most beautiful scenes I’ve ever seen and a moment our Kayla richly deserved.- EIGHTH GRADE

A young, pregnant Mexican housekeeper tracks down the father of her child, finding him at some type of military training camp.  When she delivers the news to him, he screams at her to stay away from him and runs off to join his buddies.  We never see her reaction, instead experiencing the moment from a somewhat removed distance.  A lesser filmmaker would have cut to her startled, hurt face, but Alfonso Cuarón knew that we’d feel her isolation and devastation more strongly if we didn’t focus on her.  Only a master filmmaker would make such an indelible decision, along with a thousand other great ones. - ROMA

A Peruvian bear takes his Aunt on a fantastical, eye-exploding, stunning tour of London via a pop-up book come to life.  One of the most astounding animated sequences of all time. - PADDINGTON 2

A band looks out at the masses of people clapping along in sync to one of their songs, and in that moment, the connection feels palpable.  Everyone there, everyone who watched knew this was the moment when legends became immortal. - BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Nicole Kidman completely transforms herself yet again as a hardened cop with a life full of traumas etched onto her tortured face.  Just watching her lurch towards a crime scene, ambling like Jack Skellington convinced me that to watch Kidman at her peak is to witness greatness. - DESTROYER

A woman in labor and with a horrifying nail injury to her foot, crawls into a bathtub to give birth to a child.  Unable to make a sound lest she capture the attention of a murderous alien slithering through her house, she agonizingly holds it all in until a competing noise allows her to let out a pained, visceral scream. - A QUIET PLACE

A young cater-waiter gets invited onstage to sing her song with a headlining rock star.  Surprised by her power, surprised by the surge and size of the crowd, her guileless reaction and blazing talent cut through, quickly proving the movie’s title. - A STAR IS BORN

Regina Hall sits on a rooftop with two of her female employees from a HOOTERS-like establishment.  They’re all in a transition period in their lives, unsure what the future brings.  They’ve all gone through an intense day and let it all out with extended screams, an unforgettable, undeniable female rage. This small, simple, subtle film is also one of the year’s best.  - SUPPORT THE GIRLS

More groundbreaking than I had ever thought, Fred Rogers soaks his feet in a little tub and invites his black, gay co-star to do the same, breaking taboos on a children’s show way ahead of its time. - WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

Charlize Theron shows us the real pain of motherhood, never once feeling like a glammed-up version of the harsh realities, and yet saves its most shocking sucker punch for its final moments, delivering a reveal as unexpected as the one I didn’t see coming in SHARP OBJECTS. - TULLY

Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), referring to Emma Stone’s Abigail, tells Lady Sarah( Rachel Weisz), “I like it when she puts her tongue inside me”…which is followed by Stone giving Weisz the year’s best side-eye. - THE FAVOURITE

In a film filled with shocking moments - the odd clucking sounds, the decapitated bird head, the unexpected death of a major character, the eerie, incongruous reflection of a teen’s face in a school window, the most jolting moment comes when Toni Collette stands over her offspring’s bed and says, “I never wanted to be your mother”.  Stunned, she seemingly scoops those words back down her throat in an attempt to make them go away.  For this moment alone, and she gives a tour de force performance here, Collette enters the pantheon of actors who made themselves immortal. - HEREDITARY

Modern day cowboys sit around a perfectly shot nighttime campfire as our hero questions his place as a man in this world.  Masculinity has rarely been shot through with such tenderness as in every moment of this quiet stunner. - THE RIDER

“Gucci!” - EIGHTH GRADE

A young daughter ever so patiently and lovingly tells her PTSD-afflicted father that their views on how to live their lives may not converge, reminding us that histrionics don’t necessarily make for great conflict.  You can find it even when people act like adults and show decency towards each other. - LEAVE NO TRACE

My heart broke when a young Lebanese boy tried every way possible to keep his sister from being sold off as a child bride.  The kinetic filmmaking of this sequence mined every second for peak emotions. - CAPERNAUM

A blisteringly romantic tale of star-crossed lovers in Post War Poland wins the swoon award every time Joanna Kulig (a dead ringer for Jennifer Lawrence) sings the refrain, “Oy yoy yoy” - COLD WAR

Jack Black, playing a hard-partying character whose accident leads to the lifelong paralysis of his new friend (Joaquin Phoenix), meets up with him many years later.  In a short but painful scene, we see the wreckage of a life and the profound sorrow written across Black’s face.  I never thought I’d type the words, “Jack Black’s acting made me sob”, but there you have it.  If Beatrice Straight can win an Oscar for a single scene, then Jack Black can too.  Of course, I’m not even getting into how great Jonah Hill was in this film, but I’d be here all day. - DON’T WORRY, HE WON’T GET FAR ON FOOT

The matriarch of a family takes their housekeeper to a baby store to buy a crib when the chaos of the Corpus Christi Massacre erupts in the streets below, turning a simple shot into something epic, grand and inconceivable. - ROMA

Let’s face it.  It had some of the best and bitchiest one liners of the year:  “I pity your wife if you think six minutes is forever” , “Roger, there's only room in this band for one hysterical queen”, "Tell him thanks for the birthday cake. And tell him you're an epic shag”, and the beautiful, un-ironic exchange, “FREDDIE: Let’s go and punch a hole in the roof of Wembley Stadium.  BRIAN: Actually, Wembley Stadium doesn’t have a roof.  FREDDIE: Then we’ll punch a hole in the sky,” - BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Kristen Stewart recounts how Joan Jett gave her some advice on how to capture her essence when she played her in THE RUNAWAYS.  Jett told her to “pussy that wood” in reference to how to attack her guitar.  Advice only a take-no-prisoners, blazingly alive woman could give to another in this energizing look at a true legend. - BAD REPUTATION

All of the tired superhero tropes we’ve become used to in live action appear fresh and thrilling when animated.  Who knew I’d thrill to a whole slew of Peter Parkers swinging through New York on their webs?  Who knew Lily Tomlin would appear in this and absolutely kill as Aunt May?  Who knew Kathryn Hahn would even appear in a Marvel movie and skillfully weaponize a nerdy persona? - SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

Sure, we all loved that moment when Lady Gaga sang “Shallow”, but let’s not forget another star was born when Henry Cavill got up off that tiled bathroom floor, doffed his suit jacket and reloaded his fists to jump back into one of the best fight sequences in film history. - MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT

Connecting the dots of the past with our present day mess of a country, Spike Lee ends his film on an unsubtle yet vital montage of pure rage. - BLACKKKLANSMAN

In a wonderful reversal to the original, the murderous Michael Myers looks out a backyard window to see Laurie Strode (a fierce Jamie Lee Curtis) standing amongst the hanging sheets. Who’s the monster now?!! - HALLOWEEN

A montage detailing the many prison escapes of our protagonist, an aging, lifelong bank robber (Robert Redford still displaying his undeniable charisma at 82), provides a wonderfully conflicted view of a man who must commit crimes in order to feel alive. - THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN

A bitter, outrageously dead-inside mother jogs on a treadmill, moving cynically forward in life despite having a missing child she barely noticed anyhow and a crumbling Russian society around her. - LOVELESS

“Did you just look at me?  Did you?  Look at me. LOOK AT ME!  HOW DARE YOU!  CLOSE YOUR EYES!” - THE FAVOURITE

Despite endlessly terrible scenes of tourists dancing and eating gelato, Clint Eastwood finds a magic power in having the real life heroes on that train play themselves as they thwart a terrorist attack. Although a failed experiment of a film, those 10 minutes felt real and raw and undeniable because of its stunt casting and astute directorial choices. - THE 15:17 TO PARIS

Smack dab in the middle of the movie, it ends.  Roll credits.  Oh wait.  Things didn’t go so swimmingly?  Let’s continue.  A hugely entertaining fake-out gives self-reflexive cinema a good name. - VICE

After a traumatic incident at a beach (a stunningly shot, hugely suspenseful scene with incredible sound design), a housekeeper looks out the window of a car with a sense of peace as the reflections from the window gorgeously whisk past her lovely face. - ROMA

In the male dominated world of gun-toting action films, it was refreshing to see a group of women, led by a soulful performance by Natalie Portman, lock and load and enter the Shimmer. - ANNIHILATION

A Russian Engineer named Andreyev (Paddy Considine) panics when ordered by Stalin to record a symphony which already occurred.  He quickly assembles a ragtag group of people to recreate the concert, telling this terrified assembly living under a murderous regime, “Don’t worry, nobody is going to get killed. I promise you. This is just a musical emergency.” Not a great film, but Armando Iannucci and company know their way around a scabrous line or two. - THE DEATH OF STALIN

Most people will cite the great single take outside a limo as its driven from a poor side of town to a wealthy side.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic piece of cinema, but my mind gravitated towards another moment.  A grieving widow lets her dog run loose in another widow’s apartment.  The puppy stops at a closet door and reacts to what’s behind it.  We know what it is, and she knows what it is even before we’re given visual confirmation.  A fantastic storytelling moment. - WIDOWS

Evan Peters, sitting in a car at a gas station, is joined by the actual person he’s portraying, melding narrative with documentary in such an original way. - AMERICAN ANIMALS

Although chock full of special effects in a genre I tend to find forgettable, Michael B. Jordan commanded attention in a simple, quiet scene inside a museum, finding danger and intelligence in every line. He was the REAL special effect of this film. - BLACK PANTHER

Scotty Bowers may be a creepy hoarder, but when you’re 95 and have no f*cks left to give, you’re gonna spill some tea about Hollywood Stars and we will soak it all up in this one-of-a-kind documentary - SCOTTY AND THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD

The slowest moving conveyor belt of all time provides one of the most well-timed, hilarious payoffs of the year.  We need an award for Best Supporting Prop! - GAME NIGHT

Leslie Mann tries to quietly sneak out of her daughter’s Prom night hotel room but electrocutes herself behind the TV console in a delicious bit of physical comedy. - BLOCKERS

A mother desperate to track down her troubled young son gives drugs to an addict in return for more information, showing just how far she’s willing to go. - BEN IS BACK

A closeted up-and-coming movie star confesses to his “golly gee” midwestern wife that he’s not happy and can’t pretend anymore. We get a naked glimpse behind both of their veneers. It’s a stunning, hugely empathetic moment for characters we’ve respectively and heretofore dismissed as a sociopath and a rube. - THE HAPPYS

Alex Borstein’s lesbian character Susie Myerson from THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL has met her feature film match with Melissa McCarthy’s equally nihilistic performance as Lee Israel.  To see her jousting with Richard E. Grant in any random moment in this wonderful film is to experience acting heaven. I loved how their final moments together could have easily turned to mush, but by staying true to their salty characters, they ended things in a deliciously dark manner. - CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?

A comedy duo enacts a favorite routine onstage at the risk of one of their’s health.  It’s scary, but the love and respect they have for each other shines through. - STAN & OLLIE

I’m sorry to say it gave me the “Made For TV” vibes, but it still found power when Nicole Kidman’s character busts her son out of an Ex-Gay Center, calling out its owner for his utter lack of qualifications. There’s nothing quite like a stifled, repressed woman finding her voice. - BOY ERASED

“I’m just like you” - says a privileged suburban teen as he bounds out of his McMansion and into a fancy SUV.  While I generally enjoyed the film, this tone deaf opening line had me futilely looking around for my big house and fancy car.  Sometimes a moment out of time is a wrongheaded one. - LOVE, SIMON

In a documentary full of insane twists and turns, the big moment for me came when we were treated to a clip from DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN. Madonna breezes past our smiling, tight jean-sporting identical triplets, the new “It Boys of New York”, the flush of newly-found fame written all over their faces long before their tragic fall. - THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS

Say what you will about the endless 80s references, I want to live inside the swirling sequence which serves as an homage to THE SHINING. - READY PLAYER ONE

A Japanese woman dons a strange blonde wig and practices English and high fives with another ESL student, over-exaggerating her rounded open mouth as she speaks. - OH LUCY!

Constance Yu playing mah jongg slyly shows her deep wells of strength and strategic genius, nicely setting up a character who will surprise and charm us in equal measures. - CRAZY RICH ASIANS

Yes, it’s a pretty terrible movie, but there’s no denying the thrill of a certain pop legend’s long-awaited entrance by helicopter.  It caused my friend Dennis to say out loud, “F*ck yeah, it’s Cher!” - MAMMA MIA!: HERE WE GO AGAIN

In an otherwise forgettable film, Jodie Foster’s memorable gait as the “Hotel” Nurse made me happily forget Kevin Spacey’s from THE USUAL SUSPECTS, and for that, I thank her! - HOTEL ARTEMIS

A young boy named Stevie tries to impress a bunch of older skateboarders with a stunt which sends him through a hole in a roof and crashing to the ground with a sickening thud. - MID90S

Renee: I thought you might want a sneak peek of what’s to come.
      Ethan: I don’t know if you know what sneak peek means. You’re completely naked. - I FEEL PRETTY

Despite the gimmick of the movie seen entirely through laptop and smartphone footage, there’s electricity in the moment John Cho’s father character discovers his missing daughter has had a secret life. - SEARCHING

A dancer tries out a solo for a very strange company, unaware that each leap, spin or kick sends a trapped woman a floor below her into bone-crunching contortions.  It’s a scene you can almost feel. There’s something rotten in East Berlin! - SUSPIRIA

Sure, Emma Stone worked out a great side-eye in THE FAVOURITE, but has there ever been an actor who seems born to them more than Emily Blunt?  Still, my biggest emotional connection to this film came when Ben Wishaw sang “A Conversation”.  A beautiful, sweet lament. - MARY POPPINS RETURNS

The site of Michelle Pfeiffer dressed as an elderly woman, cane in hand, hobbling through the streets of New York in a desperate attempt to cash her late mother’s government checks, the score a cacophony of horns and percussion, gave me DRESSED TO KILL shivers. - WHERE IS KYRA?

Think of it as SHARP OBJECT’s UK Cousin, as we watch Moll (a searing Jessie Buckley) tap into female rage in all its messy, bloody glory in this feature length primal scream. - BEAST

Packed with punch and urgency, the opening sequence made you believe you were actually experiencing a WWII aerial combat.  Oh, and then it became a fun zombie gore-fest. - OVERLORD

A group of kids escape a gay conversion camp and pile into the back of a pickup truck.  Did they make the right decision?  Where do they go from here?  A wordless homage to the final scene in THE GRADUATE packed a punch. - THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST

Blake Lively wearing clothes.  That is all. - A SIMPLE FAVOR

A meeting with the family of a man who got their daughter pregnant goes terribly wrong, resulting in a slew of insults and threats.  It’s a fully alive, oddly comical yet tragic sequence in a film which otherwise left me cold.  - IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

Typically known for her impeccable image (before the reality show circus, of course), this pop icon lets down her guard and hilariously tears into Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul.  Had she been allowed to be more herself, her life might not have been as tragic. - WHITNEY

Glenn Close delivers the year’s best slow boil as the wife of a Nobel Prize winner who has secretly been his unheralded ghost writer all these years.  Until things grow shouty and overwritten in the third act, Close holds a master class in barely suppressed rage. - THE WIFE

Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, intense tennis rivals, meet up at the airport after their fateful match, the looks between them offering up a touching blend of competitiveness and respect and which will lead to their unexpected, lifelong friendship. - BORG VS. McENROE

In a moment of much-needed image rehabilitation, Anne Hathaway, as the GOOP-like actress perfectly named Daphne Kluger, wins her way back into our hearts just by the way she reacts to a priceless necklace being wrapped around her neck.  Every shiver and glance in the mirror makes you love her in all her campy glory. - OCEAN’S 8

A woman gets pushed off a cliff and finds herself impaled on a tree branch, yet not only does it not stop her, she’s just getting started in this literal bloodbath of a feminist fantasy. - REVENGE

A man meets tragedy and finds himself in a wheelchair only to gain powers he never had before after undergoing an experimental procedure.  In a fight scene involving an antagonist and a kitchen knife, Logan Marshall-Green surprises himself with each display of brute force coming out of him, making for one of the most brutal yet winningly entertaining melees I’ve seen on screen all year…and don’t forget that kitchen knife.  It’s just the right button on this bit of ultraviolet slapstick. - UPGRADE

A young husband meets with a conflicted priest, and in a searing monologue, tells the man of the cloth that the world is such a hellscape, he’d rather his pregnant wife abort their baby than bring it up in such a terrible environment.  It’s the first jolt of many in this nihilistic yet strangely hopeful film. - FIRST REFORMED

Presidential candidate Gary Hart (Hugh Jackman) confronts some press members who have staked out his home with the hope of catching him with a woman other than his wife.  He indignantly rails against them, claiming he had a right to privacy.  Oh, how times have changed. - THE FRONT RUNNER

Katja (Diane Kruger), a woman at the end of her rope, who has lost her family and confidence in the justice system, takes matters into her own hands in the literally explosive, inevitable, and crushing final scene. - IN THE FADE

Who knew that Hal Ashby had such a sincerely lovely relationship with his mentor, Norman Jewison?  It’s nice to know that sometimes successful people in the film business actually help out their younger charges. - HAL

I’m not sure I ever really wanted to know what it really felt like to sit in a fiery tin can on the way to the moon and back, but now I do.  It’s very well done, but I think I may need to puke.  - FIRST MAN

A young man with AIDS (Cory Michael Smith) sits with his mother (Virginia Madsen) in a car, unable to truly be honest with her.  The pain of it all comes across so clearly on their faces.  - 1985

An oversized candy cane weaponized to fight zombies at Christmas time in Scotland.  Oh, and it’s also a musical.  Just go! - ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE

I saw it twice to make sure I truly hated it, and yep, I still did…but the opening sequence in the school, the terrorist attack on the beach, and Natalie Portman banging on the table to protest a diner manager’s request for a picture will stick with me.  Hopefully I will forget the other 100 minutes of this painfully unfocused, unfocused, pretentious mess. - VOX LUX

[njmphadora]

what is your opinion on the twilight series? mainly the books but the movies as well. i always thought i would hate it and when i watched the first movie with some friends it was so stupid i was laughing? but now i'm reading the books and they are actually really good!

okay excuse me please bc i’m going to be taking this question VERY seriously. i have extremely strong opinions about the twilight series tbh. i will admit proudly that when i was a teenager and the books first came out (quite a while before the movie) i was a total die-hard twilight fan. to this day, i cry every time i read the end of new moon, and i think my total reread count for the first book was like twenty at some point but it’s gone up since then.

the books are amazing. i love the way stephanie meyer writes. i love the characters and stories she created, and the world she invented for them all to live in. i love the narrative, always found it so relatable. i loved, as in, wanted to marry and be forever with edward cullen, and i’m not even ashamed because honestly he was the perfect dream man so what ?? is there to be ashamed of ??

when the first film came out, i was so angry. i watched it, and pretended to like it, but it was horrible. some dull, badly produced, terribly acted, semi-telling of the story. kristen stewart is the worst actress i have ever seen literally like she butchered her character. and the flow of the story was terrible, skipping out or rushing over so many of my favourite parts of the book, potraying the story as if it was all about the drama when the books had been about this romance, this undying incredible unmeasurable love.

i don’t blame you for laughing at the movie. i do too, tbh. but give the books a fair chance bc they deserve it. they are amazing.

[rheaamyett]

RECAPITULATION, VOL. 1 OF 12

 The first five weeks. 

{January 2nd-5th of February} 

For the past five #artstew52 weeks I’ve been watching artists love on each other without thought or hesitation. It’s like, I know we care for others and all but I know sometimes it’s hard to find a way to tell them or give back, especially online. You guys are beyond willing to care about each other’s work and you have also emboldened me to keep cranking out the prompts and effort for the Art Stew.  

It started as a project for myself and @alyssa.kinde ! Two people. Alyssa already tends to create content quickly and I thought she would be a good one for motivating me and holding me accountable. 

When I’ve done these projects in the past they tend to fizzle around five weeks (we’re at five weeks now so we’ll see) ;) but on a whim I decided to DM all the artists I could think of that I already had a bit of a connection with. Even in that one night when I sent out the proposal EVERYONE responded they were interested!  

SINCE then the support for the stew has been happily simmering and bubbling and boiling… (I love these stew metaphors—sometime we need to make punny t-shirts.)

So I guess what I’m trying to say is I have two things on my heart especially.

1. I’m very appreciative of everyones passion for this project so far and for everyone that is supporting as observers.

2. I find myself feeling warm and fuzzy and smiling everyday that I read your comments on each others contributions. I want your ways to rub off on me and I think it’s more likely that will happen if I stay surrounded by all of your stewy hearts.

Okay, now for a recap.

WEEK ONE—A WORD FOR 2017

There were so many words floating around. I think most everyone was feeling positive or trying to think of a word that would double as a resolution. (Everything in bold is a link to the art piece.) :

Dino-mite, flourish, pursue, fight, rooster (year of the rooster), do, grace, can, determination, heal, patience, love, wild, wellness, possible, journey, spark, faith, bravery, passion, abundance, self-belief.. one Steward’s word was vision and he designed a 3D art piece that resembled an eye. (I think it was so brilliant we probably didn’t catch it right away.) Another Steward said their word was despair which I found so hilarious and humorous in it’s honesty and contrast to the others.

Art by: @alyssa.kinde (Core Artist), She articulated it best for the Art Stew, “The prompt for this week was "a word for 2017″. A word I had already chosen for this year was - adventure - the project came together nicely and I think it does have "the spirit of adventure." Happy New Year everyone! Have lots of adventures!” See all of Alyssa’s contributions here: #alyssastew52

WEEK TWO—SNUG

Week two I believe was my personal favorite because we had enough time to really focus on the prompt and on each other. The prompt kicked off the Art Stew community in all the snugly ways (and I mean all of them.) 

For example: 

Art by: @kristentillmandesign (Core Artist), “It's week 2 of #artstew52 and this week's prompt is "snug". I thought of cozy socks, cuddly babies and such, but I couldn't get this ink elephant vision out of my head!” See all of Kristen’s contributions here: ktartstew52

@mich.elle.imagery however interpreted the other side of snug for us very nicely, “Cozy socks, wool blankets, candles and oversize sweaters encompass all of these things. Beyond that though, after full days of getting out of my comfort zone, I also believe it's a feeling to come back to at the end of the day as a way to recharge before starting the next day of adventure.” (I’m seeing an adventure theme here.) See Michelle’s photo for snug here.

WEEK THREE—EVERGREEN

This week was jam packed with simplicity and beauty. Exactly like @ariellebacon ‘s piece here and this written piece below:

Prose by: @a_hilst (Writer), “The woods always smell of burning, a strangely comforting smell, that smell of dying trees. I walk under a gray sky, sticks snapping under my brown boots, the ones I wore in the snow when I carried his tiny body, warm and safe in mine. I stare at the dull green of the pine trees, vivid against the brown trunks and exposed branches. I catch a whiff of smoke again. Two things never say enough: fire and death. Isn’t that the proverb?”

One of my personal favorite aspects of the Art Stew are the writers and this particular style of writing stood out to me. I love bits of writing that end in a question. So well done Ashly. Read the rest of this beautifully chokey piece here.

WEEK FOUR—LUNAR

I thought everyone loved the moon but I overheard one Steward, @kristentillmandesign (nudge, nudge) saying she was utterly uninspired by the “annoyingly boring white blob”. We all have that blob in our life don’t we and yet after Kristen focused on it a bit this is what she concluded, 

“Upon further thought, I realized that perhaps I dislike said blob because she asks me daily "What did you accomplish today?" and most days, my honest answer is "not enough." But maybe I'm hearing the wrong question. Perhaps she's asking "Were you loved and did you love today?", to which I can joyfully respond "yes!"—See Kristen’s not so uninspiring blob here.

Photo by: @hellozorzi (Photographer, I’m guessing she’s a writer too.), “Last week's word for #artstew52 was LUNAR and I couldn't get the right shot anywhere. Not the sliver of the waxing moon, or the opalescent colors, or a photo of my Moon Spells. Nothing was 'it'. And today driving back from my school site, I could have kept trucking ahead in the snow back to Amherst, or taken a right and pulled into the Bookmill. I took the right, shook my boots off before entering the tiny cafe there, and saw @magknowlia's hair from the back-- neck craned into a book of modern poetry. When you see exactly the person you wanted to see and didn't even know it and they have a window seat view of the snow-- get a mug of coffee and join them. Because between us saying how we'll never actually read The Federalist and how we both have eerily similar hidden dreams-- she raised her hand to her chin and THERE IT WAS: the 🌙  I had been looking for. Found you, little Luna.”

WEEK FIVE—A FAVORITE BOOK

Last but not in the slightest least! This week the word torture was tossed around so much you would have thought that we weren’t having the best Art Stewy week of all! 

I’m going to list all of the favorite books here so we can add them to our “to read” lists. Click on the name in bold to see more info on the book and contributions for the week.

HARRY POTTER (series)—@jennapaddey (pictured below), @klaing_, @bertillustration, and myself.

ANNE OF THE ISLAND—@ariellebacon

WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR—@mich.elle.imagery

WINNIE THE POOH (original)—@lipstickandgelato

PRIDE & PREJUDICE—@wilkinsonsophie1

THE LORD OF THE RINGS (trilogy)—@ranilynreed

ST. LUCY’S HOME FOR GIRLS RAISED BY WOLVES—@emilyh_art

THE HUNGER GAMES (trilogy)—@opallonia

CORALINE—@coreycatkins

THE SNOW GOOSE—@alyssa.kinde

CAN’T YOU SLEEP LITTLE BEAR—@teathoughts

JANE EYRE

THE HELP

HEARTLESS

THE BOOK THIEF @gracie_eyre ‘s top four (cuz she couldn’t pick just one) ;)

THE BLUE CASTLE—@a_hilst

ANY HUMAN HEART—@thewordfairy

THE TWO PRINCESSES OF BAMARRE - @teaganolivia

THE LITTLE PRINCE - @lacelit 

NEVERWHERE - @themythicalphoenix

@blackberry​square picked her freshly made gardening book and if I had a garden that would be my treasure book too. (Click her name to see.)

EDIT: To be continued... the week isn’t quite over.

There is your list! If you want, treat yourself to one of these books for your own personal #newbookday and share what you decide on in the #artstew52 tagging the person that inspired it.

Art by: @jennapaddey (Core and Digital Artist), “I mean, come on. It's not really a surprise is it? I definitely have a long list of favourite books, but I've read the Harry Potter series more than any other, it was definitely a huge part of growing up and i love it deeply. So here's a wee little Harry heading off to Hogwarts.”

The highlight of the whole month for me was the presence of @opallonia! If you ever need her she’s probably already in the comments telling you all the things she likes about you and your work. She has helped me keep this stew cooking all month. I’ve made so many new friends and I bet Appolonia is ALREADY one of yours. So, I’ll leave you with a piece of Appolonia’s awe-inspiring awesomeness...

A video posted by ｐｏｐｓ (@opallonia) on Jan 19, 2017 at 2:08am PST

SO! How’s that for our first Recapitulation? I’ll post one for every month of the Art Stew because really, there is so much goodness to stew in here.

If you want, send me your feedback and thoughts by clicking the tab under the Art Stew Header that says “Comments & Good Conversation”.

[jessicakehoe]

All the Podcasts the FASHION Team is Loving Right Now

Whether we’re hitting the treadmill or sitting on the streetcar for a long commute, podcasts are our best friends. Here’s what the team is downloading, sharing and recommending this year.

Bernadette Morra, Editor in Chief

“My favourite is The Glossy Podcast which features interviews with fashion insiders – from designers to CEOs. They discuss the challenges they face around current topics like sustainability and size inclusivity. It’s always interesting to hear the inner workings of a brand, whether it’s a DTC startup or a traditional one aiming to refresh. This always reminds me how tough and competitive the fashion business is.”

On the Glossy Podcast, Kahn discussed her career path from Marc Jacobs to DTC fine jewelry, the company's use of crowdsourcing to steer product development and its plans for international expansion https://t.co/pWwI62fg52 pic.twitter.com/mmF0ULGZ7b

— Glossy (@glossyco) December 5, 2019

Odessa Paloma Parker, Fashion News Director

Casefile “It’s an Australian true crime podcast that focuses on stories from around the world. I like the level of nuanced information the host provides, and the cases are all very well researched. Not all of them are solved cases so it can be a bit unsatisfactory if you need a resolution, but compelling nonetheless.”

99% Invisible “I love trivia and random facts, and this California-based podcast delivers. Ever wondered about the history of drinking fountains? Or how logos are made? 99% Invisible tells all. My favourite episodes are about the naming of gentrified neighbourhoods, and one about Bonnie Erickson, who designed some of the most iconic Muppets and mascots.”

Jazz Cups: The Snazzy Paper Tableware Pattern that Encapsulates Early 90s Design https://t.co/wSY7q6kLeZ pic.twitter.com/NSEGxL2Wm3

— 99 Percent Invisible (@99piorg) December 20, 2019

Maddison Glendinning, Digital Director

“I’ve been hooked since listening to my first episode of Work in Progress. Sophia Bush is a brilliant interviewer, and I’m constantly fist-pumping the air as I listen to her conversations with the likes of Eva Chen, Gloria Steinem and Gretchen Carlson. The pod touches on issues of politics, religion, women’s rights, career, self-love, motherhood and beyond, from the perspective of journalists, wellness experts, ex-CIA spies (yes, seriously), actors and more of Bush’s formidable friends. I also feel like I learn something new after each episode, which I like as it brings a sense of achievement to my daily commute.”

Ahead of the release of @GloriaSteinem’s new book “The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off!” make sure to check out her conversation with @SophiaBush on #WorkInProgress: https://t.co/oKryqPsCbP pic.twitter.com/BqIiwjixyJ

— Work In Progress (@workinprogress_) October 28, 2019

Pahull Bains, Culture & Lifestyle Editor

“Clocking in at roughly two hours an episode, Armchair Expert demands a solid time commitment but it’s well worth it. Host Dax Shepard, who is a recovering alcoholic, likens the podcast to an AA meeting because of the immense vulnerability, trust and candour it elicits from its guests, who, by the way, are some of the biggest celebrities on the planet. A tiny snapshot of the roster: actress Kristen Bell (also Shepard’s wife), Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow, comedian Hasan Minhaj, actor Kumail Nanjiani and actress/lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow. Far from a typical celebrity chat that barely skims the surface of who they are as people, the Armchair conversations go deep, touching on everything from childhood trauma to addiction to deep-rooted insecurities and more. Always a deeply insightful, thought-provoking listen.”

2019 was a beautiful year for us. Will Ferrell made us belly laugh, Esther Perel blew our minds,Monica Lewinsky taught us about vulnerability & Dax farted on a guest. enjoy our Best of 2019 episode! If you’re feeling like going down memory lane, this one is a very fun drive. 🍒 pic.twitter.com/lBqUWAoLSX

— Armchair Expert Podcast (@ArmchairExpPod) December 19, 2019

Sarah Mariotti, Editorial Assistant

“It’s become so normal for us to walk around with a façade, but Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations — especially Oprah’s 2020 Vision series — features honest interviews, which I think are super important and beneficial. Not only has she crafted a positive platform, but I love how Oprah knows all the right questions to ask. The mindbodygreen podcast is also nice because it gets you thinking about your overall wellness.”

.@Oprah sat down with @ladygaga as they chatted about lessons she’s learned as an international pop star, actress and cultural icon. Listen to the full episode now! https://t.co/xkzRA9uSK1 pic.twitter.com/OOQdl1OOgX

— SuperSoul Sunday (@SuperSoulSunday) January 10, 2020

Natasha Bruno, Beauty Director

“Second Life by Who What Wear co-founder Hillary Kerr was my go-to last year. I binge-listened while training for my marathon last summer. Hearing all these inspiring personal stories of brilliant women who made successful, passion-filled career pivots really helped me at a time when I was trying to figure out life.”

Listen to the latest episode of @secondlifepod, featuring @nicolerichie: https://t.co/FHLFXV4qVK

— Who What Wear (@WhoWhatWear) December 10, 2019

The post All the Podcasts the FASHION Team is Loving Right Now appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

All the Podcasts the FASHION Team is Loving Right Now published first on https://borboletabags.tumblr.com/

[hub-pub-bub]

Scientific writing isn’t all medical textbooks and academic journals! These eight books, which cover a range of topics from Alzheimer’s to bipolar disorder, are as entertaining as they are educational. Take one of these books to the beach this summer for an edifying afternoon!

THE TERROR BY DAN SIMMONS

The HMS Terror and the HMS Erebus were real ships that set off from England in 1845 to try and find the Northwest Passage. That trip is known as Franklin’s Lost Expedition, and neither of the ships were found until 2014 (after this book was published). For decades after the expedition was lost, Captain Sir John Franklin’s wife Lady Jane Franklin agitated for multiple searches to find her husband’s ships.

In Dan Simmons book, we get a fictionalized account of what happened to the 129 men on those ships, based on all the evidence available when the book was written. Although Simmons based his story on real-world evidence of the expedition’s fate, he adds fantastical elements to spice up the plot and underscore the main theme: leave nature alone. With detailed accounts of scurvy, this is another amazing book that should not be read at lunchtime. (A well-reviewed AMC series was based on this book.)

—Recommended by Senior Scientific Writer Mary Parker

PRODIGAL SUMMER BY BARBARA KINGSOLVER

Set in a small Appalachian town in the shadow of the mountains, the novel follows the lives of a select group of people. It focuses on 3 individual stories at the start – a curmudgeonly old couple each living alone on neighbouring farms on the town outskirts arguing about the best way to manage their land – with or without chemicals; a female ranger who lives alone monitoring the wildlife of the forest higher up the slopes, especially a family of coyotes under threat from hunters and in between, a young farmers wife, transplanted from the city, suddenly finding her life in pieces and feeling utterly alone.

During the summer, the relationship between these protagonists and with outsiders emerges.  I love the way this web of human relationships mirrors the complexity of the natural world described in the book. There is a very timely, but subtle, environmental message and it’s quite amusing in places too. The American author writes beautifully, has degrees in Biological Sciences, and this interest shines through in many of her novels, but this is my favourite.

—Recommended by Sue Edwards, Manager, GEMS

EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING BY NICOLA YOON

Sam Jorgensen’s review: Judge me if you want, but I am a firm believer that you don’t have to be a young adult to enjoy Young Adult novels. Everything, Everything is the story of Maddy, a teenager who isn’t allowed to leave her room. Not because she’s grounded, but because as a baby she was diagnosed with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCIDs) leaving her immune system essentially nonexistent. But then a cute boy moves in next door and well… the rest, as they say, is history. If you like plucky female protagonists, a healthy dose of medical jargon and dramatic teen romances, then this may just be the beach read you’ve been searching for.

—Recommended by Sam Jorgensen, Public Relations and Social Media Manager

INSIDE THE O’BRIEN’S AND STILL ALICE BY LISA GENOVA

To celebrate Rare Disease Day, my company, Charles River Laboratories, hosted a lunch and learn with the Huntington’s Disease Association of America. One of the speakers was a volunteer whose family was forever changed by Huntington’s disease (HD). She suggested that we read Inside the O’Brien’s to learn more about HD. The novel made me feel lucky to be healthy and proud to work at Charles River. Having enjoyed the book and the author, I went on to read Still Alice about a fictional professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. I feel much more knowledgeable about these two devastating diseases. Lisa Genova is a trained neuroscientist and excellent storyteller.

—Recommended by Kristen Parsons, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

EDUCATED BY TARA WESTOVER

This book chronicles the complications of dealing with and diagnosing bipolar disorder. The book is a memoir… the past through a child’s eyes is a tool that brings her to accept and understand what in her past she could not see at the time. She rises above her own expectations to tell a story of mental illness and how it not only effects the person, but the family and people around them. So worth the read.

—Recommended by Cathie Adams, Sr. Mgr, North America RMS

A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING BY BILL BRYSON

A Short History of Nearly Everything is a great book about science for non-scientists and scientists. Bill Bryson has a good sense of humour, and describes the history of the Earth (starting at the big bang, and including dinosaurs) in a very understandable, but also very amusing way! He is able to get you to understand boring or complicated subjects like geology and particle physics, which is a talent on its own. If you’re looking for a better summer read than Chick lit, pick this one if you haven’t done so already!

—Recommended by Brigitta Witte, Group Leader

DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY: MURDER, MAGIC, AND MADNESS AT THE FAIR THAT CHANGED AMERICA BY ERIK LARSON

If you are a fan of true crime and/or architectural history, this is the book for you. You will be treated to a fascinating exploration of the men who designed the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, which was visited by over 27 million people in less than one year. A few of those 27 million were murdered by H. H. Holmes, the book’s other protagonist, and possibly the most prolific serial killer in American history. The book describes his murder and body disposal techniques in as much forensic detail as the feats of architectural engineering happening blocks away at the fairgrounds. A good and gory story, do not read some passages on a full stomach.

—Recommended by Senior Scientific Writer Mary Parker

[southernmistake]

1-60

1. selfie- Nah. I got plenty of pictures on here lol2. what would you name your future kids? I like french names and older sounding names. 3. do you miss anyone? Definitely.4. what are you looking forward to? Starting my new job!5. is there anyone who can always make you smile? My niece, for sure.6. is it hard for you to get over someone? yeah7. what was your life like last year? The biggest shit show ever8. have you ever cried because you were so annoyed? yeah9. who did you last see in person? My sister10. are you good at hiding your feelings? NOPE11. are you listening to music right now? Yes! Dodie- If I'm Being Honest12. what is something you want right now? A kitty :(13. how do you feel right now? Numb-ish14. when was the last time someone of the opposite sex hugged you? Been a WHILE15. personality description- I've got a big heart but I'm a fucking mess16. have you ever wanted to tell someone something but you didn’t? for sure17. opinion on insecurities. Everyone has them. Its natural. We can't all embrace every part of ourselves all the time. Its ok to not be ok with everything about yourself18. do you miss how things were a year ago? no19. have you ever been to New York? no20. what is your favourite song at the moment? Been on a huge post malone kick lately tbh lol21. age and birthday? 22, July 222. description of crush. Lots of history with her. The spark never dies.23. fear(s) bugs, confrontation lol24. height 5'6"25. role model Jameela Jamil26. idol(s) Miley, Gaga, Dodie27. things i hate- rude people, over aggressive-ness28. i’ll love you if… you take the time to get to know me, you're genuinely kind29. favourite film(s) The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, any disney film, any musical film LOL, Gone With The Wind30. favourite tv show(s) The Haunting of Hill House, The Good Place, The Office, Greys Anatomy, Bobs Burgers, GAME OF THRONES.31. 3 random facts- I hyperfocus on my interests a lot and obsess over one at a time., I LOVE cats SM, Haunted Mansion is my fave disney attraction32. are your friends mainly girls or guys? girls33. something you want to learn? MORE PIANO34. most embarrassing moment? nothing comes to mind tbh35. favourite subject? English36. 3 dreams you want to fulfill? Idk, I'm just trying to keep living day by day dude37. favourite actor/actress? Kristen Bell!!38. favourite comedian(s) Ellen, John Mulaney39. favourite sport(s) nope40. favourite memory? Spending the weekends at grandmere and pops on the weekends as a kid41. relationship status? dead42. favourite book(s) Perks of being a wallflower, its kind of a funny story, the uglies series43. favourite song ever? Would you be so kind- dodie44. age you get mistaken for? 1745. how you found out about your idol? Shes famous lol46. what my last text message says? KK, that’s fine. Love u!47. turn ons? Confidence, dominance, a good fucking smile48. turn offs? Bad attitude, negativity49. where i want to be right now DISNEY50. favourite picture of your idol idk dude lol51. starsign Cancer!52. something i’m talented at? Performing is my thing. Singing, acting, dancing, being awkwardly funny?53. 5 things that make me happy? Disney, the color blue, oceans, cats, music54. something thats worrying me at the moment? My sister55. tumblr friends? Lol nope56. favourite food(s) pizza, ice cream, pasta57. favourite animal(s) CATS58. description of my best friend? Been bffs since I was 7 and literally shes like my sister I love her sm 59. why i joined tumblr? Photography in like 201260. ask me anything you want? You can!