#and joe's stepmother and father have a lot to answer for

[fictionadventurer]

The fun thing about reading non-fiction: Oh, wow, this really happened! 🥰

The bad thing about reading non-fiction: Oh, no, this really happened. 😭

[whatstruthgottodowithit]

Top of the List [Part Three]

Fandom: Elvis Presley, American Musician

Pairing: Elvis Presley x Addison Goodwin

Characters: Elvis Presley, Addison Goodwin, Jessie Goodwin, Lisa Marie Presley, Original Female Character, Original Male Character, Jerry Schilling, Marci Cunningham, Colonel Parker [Mentioned], Joe Goodwin

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 2798 of 9639

Summary: When you’re a kid writing a Christmas list is simple; toys and lots of them. As you get older however the wishes start to change and with a life as complicated as the Goodwin-Presleys those wants aren’t always easy to come by. For Addison it’s a family. For Jess answers. And for Elvis, well, as long as he’s got his girls he doesn’t have to wish for a damn thing.

Tags/Warnings: Angst, Fluff, Kissing, Sex, Penatrative Sex, Vaginal Sex, Unprotected Sex, Handjobs, Morning Sex, Mentions of Death, Grief, Grieving, Absent Father, Single Parent, Working Parent, Christmas Day, Secrets, Festive Period, Teen Angst, Moods, Fingering, Christmas Morning, Kids on Christmas, Magic of Christmas

Notes: Okay so I’d been planning these as two separate fics but I decided to put them together because they parallel each other so well. All of them wanting something etc etc

I did want to make it sorta ghosts of Christmas past, present and future but working out the timelines of how to establish everything was too hard.

PART ONE // PART TWO // PART THREE

ELVIS & ADDISON MASTERPOST  //  TAG LIST

Elvis was a deep sleeper; he always had been, even as a kid, as evidenced by the fact he’d used to have to spend every night in his parents bed to stop him from wandering off, deep in slumber and unawakenable to the outside world. So the thud of the padded door hitting his bedroom wall must’ve had quite some force on it because it was enough to pull him from sleep immediately, as was the caterwaul of his youngest daughter as she announced it was Christmas to the room before immediately appearing in front of him, a flurry of red pyjamas and blonde locks as she clambered on the bed.

‘It’s Christmas!’ she shouted, her blue eyes wide and bright as she clambered on him, her little limbs surprisingly pointy as they pierced his torso through the comforter.

‘Ya don’t say,’ Elvis chuckled, pulling her to slip in beside him and Addison, who was now stirring from sleep herself, a smile on her face and her eyes bleary.

‘I tried keeping her entertained as long as I could,’ his other daughter, Jess, said, appearing in a less chaotic fashion as she perched herself on the bed by his feet.

‘It’s okay,’ Elvis said, ‘Merry Christmas honey.’

‘Merry Christmas,’ Jess smiled, ‘Merry Christmas mom.’

‘Merry Christmas baby,’ Addison yawned, though the holiday greeting she’d had locked and loaded for her husband, who was watching her with a smile, was abruptly ripped away as Lisa decided they’d spent far too much time chatting about trivial things and instead attempted to steer them back to the crux of the issue.

'Addie, guess what?’ she said, looking up at her stepmother with a beaming smile.

‘What sweetie?’ Addison said.

‘Santa left me a stocking full of stuff by my bed! Jessie too!’ Lisa beamed.

‘Really? Wow!’ Addison smiled.

‘Is that why you’ve already got chocolate around your mouth buttonhead?’ Elvis chuckled, swiping at the corners of her lips with his thumb, though she fended him off pulling out from his grasp until she was beside her sister, where Jess remained calm and collected, Lisa stayed on her knees like a runner at the starting piston, ready to take off just as soon as the gun went off.

‘Did you guys open your stockings then?’ Addison asked, shifting towards Elvis now that there was a gap between them, his warmth inviting even though it couldn’t be any cooler than forty degrees outside.

‘Yeah, Santa really went all out this year, huh?’ Jess said quirking an eyebrow at her mother who rolled her eyes.

‘Yeah, those elves must’ve been worked to the bone, right E?’ Addison said with a giggle. Elvis shrugged, ‘what can I say? Santa’s obviously seen just how good you kids have been this year.’

‘Well you can’t argue with that right mom,’ Jess giggled.

‘Try arguing with him when he’s got his chequebook out,’ Addison said.

‘If anyone can it’s you,’ Elvis whispered in her ear, his thumb dancing underneath the t-shirt she was wearing, the soft skin of her waist warm against his hand.

‘Have you and daddy not been good?’ Lisa said, again seemingly unbothered by the topic of conversation, her mind elsewhere as she scanned the room, looking for something.

‘What do you mean baby?’ Elvis asked.

‘You and Addie didn’t get stockings,’ she said, looking at them with wide-eyed worry.

‘That’s cos theirs are downstairs remember,’ Jess said, vanquishing the worry from her sister’s eyes as she touched her shoulder gently.

'Yeah, me and your daddy left ours by the fire place,’ Addison said.

‘Oh yeah, they’re with the other presents,’ Lisa said, realisation settling her apparent nerves though they mounted again as Elvis’ face fell into an expression of suspicion, his eyes narrowing as he said, ‘and just how do you know there’s other presents?’

‘We...uh don’t,’ Lisa said, her little face just as embarrassed as her sister sitting next to her though distinctly more worried.

‘C'mon now Yisa, ya ain’t gonna lie to your daddy on Christmas now are you,’ Elvis said sternly.

Addison watched as her little face grew panicked and was half inclined to put her out of her misery, her young mind no doubt panicking she’d found herself where no kid wanted to be on Christmas morning, in trouble, but Elvis seemed to be in a jovial mood and as always when he was happy he liked to tease.

‘I’m not lying!' Lisa protested, genuine worry brooding behind her cute features as she doubled down on her fib. Fortunately for Addison though Jess intervened before the pair of them could go too far as she said, ��it’s not her fault. It’s mine but we just had a peep.’

‘Jessie Jo!’ Addison giggled.

‘Hey I kept her from opening them at least!’ Jess protested.

‘We did read all the tags though! The biggest ones for me!’ Lisa giggled, making Elvis chuckle.

‘And here I was thinking you might be too old for all this Christmas excitement,’ Addison mused.

‘Never too old right sweetheart,’ Elvis said, nudging her with his foot as she rolled her eyes.

‘Well we might all be too old if we stay up here any longer,’ Addison said, leaning up from where she was nestled against Elvis, ‘go on. You guys head downstairs; we’ll be down in a minute.’

Lisa didn’t need telling twice and took off like a speeding bullet, heading to the door with Jess following quietly behind her. Addison rubbed her eyes as they left her, all the excitement having zapped her of the little energy she’d accrued between now and two am when she and Elvis had finally gotten to bed, more excited than the kids as they spent the night putting presents under the tree and eating Santa’s cookies. Her past Christmases had never been bad. She’d always tried her hardest to make Jess’ Christmases magical, but she couldn’t deny that this one felt different. She’d enjoyed not having to worry about the cost of things as they picked out presents for the girls. She’d liked watching Elvis and the girls cuddle on the couch watching endless holiday movies. She’d enjoyed telling him about their past Christmases, even showing him a stack of photos she’d crammed in one of the countless boxes they’d yet to unpack from the old house. And most of all she’d enjoyed that there’d been no rush to any of it. There’d been no worry or stress to any of it because as of the twentieth of December Elvis was a free man. They’d be heading into 1974 free of the Colonel. Free of ties and commitments. Free to be a family.

‘Don’t be too long you two,’ Jess said as she got to the door, eyeing her parents though she knew it was probably fruitless. As much as she loved him she’d come to find out that everything at Graceland moved at Elvis’ pace and as he eyed her mother adoringly she figured they’d not be in as much of a hurry as her sister had been to get downstairs.  

‘We won’t,’ Elvis said as she shuffled out the door, calling to her before she disappeared, ‘hey why don’t ya go and wake Uncle Jer up!’

As the door clicked closed he sat up, placing a kiss on his wife to be’s forehead as he mumbled, ‘merry Christmas.’

‘Merry Christmas,’ Addison smiled against his neck, pulling back to find him watching her with a matching grin.

‘How long do you think we have before they get too excited and open them all?’ Elvis mused.

‘I’m surprised they’ve held off this long,’ Addison giggled.

‘Well we can thank Jess for that,’ he teased, ‘keeping everyone in line. She’s a mini you.’

‘Oh I don’t know five-year-old Jess would’ve given Lisa a run for her money,’ Addison mused, running her fingers along his jaw until her hand settled at the nape of his neck, teasing the hair that danced along it, well due a trim, though she quite liked the bit of length to it now that she’d become acclimatised to it.

‘That so,’ Elvis mused, leaning in till their noses were touching before he captured her lips softly in his. It was gentle at first, the pair of them too tired for a frantic rush of lust but there was a definite force to his movements as he pushed her back draping himself over her as he kissed her deeply.

‘Elvis,’ she whispered breathily as they came up for air, the throb in her core almost painful as his hand trailed down her torso, his thumb teasing her hardened nipple through the cotton of her shirt.

‘What?’ he breathed, a teasing smile back on his face.

‘We haven’t time,’ she whispered, the sounds of the kids downstairs somehow louder now that she thought about it.

‘The hell we ain’t,’ Elvis said, kissing her again as he palmed at her, his fingers dancing underneath the cotton of her shirt, teasing along the waistband of her pants.

‘Everyone’s…gonna…be waiting,’ she protested, her words punctuated by heavy breaths as his mouth migrated down her jaw, nipping and sucking along her neck as his fingers breached her pants, teasing through her slick slowly.

‘Let ‘em,’ he grunted, moving his hips against her thigh in the desperate need for some friction against his rigid cock.

‘And when the kids come barging in?’ Addison asked, trying to keep a level head though that thought was quickly snatched away as the fingers that had been teasing her breached her entrance, going deeper than expected given that the chunky rings she’d become used to were gathered on the nightstand beside them, not that her body gave little resistance anyway, ‘oh fuck.’

‘See,’ Elvis groaned, ‘besides that’s what Uncle Jer is for.’

She was panting now, grinding her hips against his hand in a way he envied, given that the silk of his pants was barely giving him any sensation. Not what he was craving at least.

‘C’mon,’ he said, peppering kisses along her jawline. He knew if he could get her out of her head, if he could make her feel good enough she’d yield to him. This was their first Christmas together, properly together. There was no worries, no impending doom, just them and their girls. And though he’d loved spending time with the girls and seeing their little faces light up with the holiday spirit, he’d loved having Addison to himself too. He knew it was probably not the time. That they should’ve headed downstairs to where the kids were waiting, Lisa no doubt bouncing off the walls with excitement, hauling everyone out of bed so that they were up and ready for when the pair of them decided to go downstairs, but he couldn’t help himself. They’d been too tired to even contemplate anything as they fell into bed last night and they’d no doubt get no time together throughout the day given that Addison had a way of being needed by everyone that rivalled even his penchant for commanding attention. So whilst they had time to breathe he was going to indulge, it was Christmas after all.

‘Five minutes,’ he said, smiling against her skin as he felt her crack an eye open.

‘That all it takes ya these days?’ she teased as he pulled back, pressing a chaste kiss to her lips. She was teasing him, which was foolish really given the whimper he emitted from her lips as his fingers curled against her, ‘I’d say I’d need less than five.’

‘Fuck Elvis,’ she whimpered, her fingers knotting in his hair as he moved quicker against her, allowing her to grind against the heel of his hand, the pressure against her clit making her offer breathy moans out to the room before she stifled them by kissing him.

‘Oh God,’ she panted, any thought of the kids gone as she chased a high she hadn’t even been thinking about ten minutes ago.

‘That’s it baby,’ he encouraged, careful not to change anything should it steal the moment from her.

‘Right there,’ she said before she squoze her thighs together, trembling around his trapped hand as she came undone beneath him. He waited for those hazel eyes to find him, hooded and lustful, before they came down from the high she’d been on, ready for more. And like his daughter, Elvis didn’t need to be told twice. He was careful not to be too obvious; should the kids come running back upstairs he didn’t want to scar them for life, so it only took some quick manoeuvring—rolling her onto her side and removing impeding clothing—before he was buried to the hilt, the relief he’d been craving better than he could’ve imagined. If he’d had the time he would’ve gone slower, worshipping every inch of her body like she deserved, but like a kid on Christmas he was too excited to wait for his present. Addison seemed to be feeling the same, grinding back against him to take him deeper before she moved his touch to her chest, enjoying the way that even her sizable breast felt small in his large hand.

‘Oh God Addie,’ Elvis grunted weakly, resting his forehead between her shoulder blades, the cotton of her t-shirt absorbing the gathered perspiration on his brow.

‘I’m close,’ she whispered, rolling her eyes as he smirked against her and mumbled, ‘and you thought five minutes was too long.’

‘Shut up,’ she panted, unable to stop her walls from clenching around him as she thought of the smug smile on his face.

‘Wait for me,’ Elvis said, feeling her teeter on the edge he wasn’t quite up to yet, his hips snapping faster and deeper as he hurried towards the precipice.

‘Elvis,’ she groaned.

‘M’right here baby,’ he grunted, ‘right here.’

‘Fuck,’ she cried, locking around him as she came, trembling once again on his cock.

‘Addie,’ he groaned.

‘I got you,’ she turning her head so that she could press a kiss to his temple, which seemed to be the thing that got him over that edge, white hot pleasure running down his spine as he spilled into her, their gathered expenditure seeping out between them as his hips faltered in rhythm, his cock slipping out of her in the process. She didn’t seem to care though; in fact, she took his hand from her chest, holding it to her cheek as she peppered kisses along it, ignoring the taste of herself on her lips. They were quiet for a moment, catching their breath before she moved, rolling onto her back so she could see him properly, keeping hold of his hand as she did. Elvis pressed his forehead to her temple, closing his eyes as he enjoyed lying there knowing that it was only going to be short-lived.

‘Nine minutes and thirty-four seconds,’ she said, making him open his eyes and catch her watching the clock behind him.

‘Well maybe I was being overly ambitious,’ he mused, kissing her cheek softly.

‘You know if you needed me to buy you a watch for Christmas I would’ve,’ she giggled.

‘Don’t need a watch,’ he mumbled, ‘I’ve got all I need.’

‘Is that right?’ she mused.

‘Mmmhmmm,’ Elvis said.

‘You old softy,’ she smiled, pressing a kiss to his forehead. Elvis flopped back, whatever energy he’d been blessed with dipping as he thought about having to get out of bed and how he’d have to summon a level of excitement he didn’t feel he had in him anymore given he’d already had his fill of excitement for the day. Addison however wasn’t on his wavelength, whatever job he’d done at getting her out of her head now ruined as the sounds of people below wafted upstairs.

‘Now c’mon,’ she said, pushing the covers back and leaving him far too exposed for his liking, which he evidenced with a grumble she ignored as she continued, ‘if Lisa’s anything like Jess we’ve got about two minutes to clean up before she storms back in here.’

‘I could do a lot in two minutes,’ Elvis countered, though his quip was ignored as Addison clambered out of bed, heading towards the bathroom as he flopped back, closing his eyes as he tried to muster the energy to follow her. Though as he heard her humming to herself and the sounds of the shower coming to life as she disappeared into the bathroom, he smiled. She’d given him what he wanted, what he needed, and it hadn’t even gone seven o’clock yet. He could get through the day, for her, for his girls.

He just hoped that the excitement of the morning would be enough of a distraction to keep the girls from asking why they were now in different pyjamas.  

ELVIS TAGS

@girlblogger2002 @sania562 @caitlin1996 @literally-just-elvis-fics @notstefaniepresley @artlesson8892 @18lkpeters @velvetelvis @jaqueline19997 @elvispresleyxoxo @amydarcimarie @presleyenterprise @everythingelvispresley @elvispresleywife @lillypink @richardslady121

[beardedmrbean]

Minnesota state Senator Nicole Mitchell refused to answer questions during an ethics hearing on her arrest on burglary charges last month, invoking her 5th Amendment rights.

State Sen. Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) was the center of the Senate’s Ethical Conduct Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, as members considered whether the lawmaker adhered to the highest standards of ethical conduct required of a state senator.

She is accused of breaking into her stepmother's home in Detroit Lakes, dressed all in all-black, in the middle of the night. According to the criminal complaint, Mitchell admitted to police she knew she did "something bad" and said she had come to get some of her late father's possessions.

In a Facebook post, Mitchell claimed she had gone to the Detroit Lakes home to check on a family member, adding the incident was a misunderstanding. However, her statement doesn't seem to line up with the narrative of events in the criminal complaint.

Mitchell has already been relieved of her committee assignments and removed from caucus meetings.

Democrats have previously argued to allow for due process before taking action. At Tuesday's hearing, Republicans argued lawmakers know enough about the alleged crimes, including Mitchell's own admissions, to act now.

Democrats have a lot to lose if Mitchell were to be expelled. In the Senate, the DFL holds a one-seat majority. The DFL would lose their majority if Mitchell were to be removed or resign. Even since her arrest, Mitchell has been the deciding vote for some Senate bills.

In Tuesday's hearing, Senator Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Minneapolis), who chaired the meeting, argued Senate rules allow for due process in the criminal court system before lawmakers are forced to act.

At the hearing, Mitchell appeared in front of the ethics committee but let her attorney speak on her behalf. Her attorney, Bruce Ringstrom Jr., said Mitchell would invoke the 5th Amendment – her right not to protect herself from self-incrimination – and not take questions until the case is complete, under advisement by her attorney.

"The proof that was needed, is the same kind of proof, the same kind of evidence that will be used in any criminal trial. And so the claims that were made about a redacted transcript or a statement from an attorney… those things get determined by a neutral fact finder – a jury or a judge - none of that happened here today," said Ringstrom.

Ringstrom argued that the hearing was premature, as the criminal case against Mitchell was still active. Meanwhile, Republicans argued that Mitchell’s behavior was in violation of Senate standards.

"This committee has the opportunity to prove that elected leaders are capable of holding each other accountable to their oaths of office to serve the public," said Sen. Karin Housley. "We are not asking you to serve as the court of law. We’re asking you to uphold the integrity of this institution and regain the public trust."

Despite that, Republicans charged on, asking questions of Mitchell and her attorney. Ringstrom mostly responded by re-affirming that Senator Mitchell was invoking her 5th Amendment right.

Experts didn't expect much to come of the ethics review, since the committee consists of two Democrats and two Republicans, making any severe action unlikely.

Members ultimately agreed to reconvene on June 12, after Mitchell appeared in court – but agreed to move up that date if there are substantive developments.

Mitchell’s attorney told FOX 9 she will continue to plead the fifth in the next hearing, as the criminal case will still be pending.

[maddie-grove]

The Top Twenty Books I Read in 2018

My main takeaways from the past year’s reading:

Growing up is hard, whether you’re a working-class college sophomore trying to adjust to an Ivy League college, a chronically ill medieval kid trying to beat witchcraft charges, or A GHOST THE WHOLE TIME.

You can go to Kansas City or the Congo or SPACE, but you can never escape the past. 

Maybe I should be more worried about getting murdered?

Anyway:

20. East by Edith Pattou (2003)

Rose, a sixteenth-century Norwegian farm girl, loves her large family, but sometimes feels at odds with their rather staid personalities. So, when a talking polar bear offers to end her family’s poverty and her sister’s illness if she’ll stay with him for a year, she accepts not only out of desperation, but also wanderlust. This expansive retelling of “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” (already a winner because of its determined, flawed heroine) shines because of its vivid use of multiple settings and its well-developed minor characters. I initially thought it was a little slow, but I really came to appreciate Pattou’s skill over time.

19. Joe College by Tom Perrotta (2000)

Danny, a working-class Yale sophomore in 1982, thinks he has a lot to worry about. His rich friends are clueless, his townie coworkers at the dining hall resent him, and his crush is dating a professor. Then he goes home for spring break, where he’s confronted with a pregnant ex and a bunch of mobsters who try to interfere with his father’s lunch-truck business. I mostly read this book for completism--I love Perrotta, but The Wishbones made me wary of his earlier work--yet this seemingly lighthearted story contains some fascinating moral and ethical dilemmas, plus a hero who is sympathetic despite his callowness. 

18. Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness (2010)

In the explosive conclusion of Ness’s Chaos Walking trilogy, the protagonists find themselves in the middle of a war with an enemy they don’t understand, forcing them to wrestle with questions of right versus wrong, forgiveness versus revenge, and the possibility of redemption. This was an intense read, but there was a lot of genuine joy and love mixed in with the death and war.

17. Ashes to Ashes by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian (2014)

In the less literally but just as emotionally explosive conclusion of Han and Vivian’s Burn for Burn trilogy, former revenge-partners Lillia and Kat try to move on in the wake of a tragedy, as well as the abrupt departure of Mary, the other member of their retribution-themed trio. The future is looking bright, but then it becomes clear that Mary is neither gone nor happy with their life choices. I read the first book of this trilogy way back in 2014 and, while I enjoyed it well enough, I wasn’t blown away. This spring, though, I had the sudden urge to read the next two books, and they were both a wonderful mix of affecting human drama and ludicrously soapy plot twists.

16. The Charm School by Susan Wiggs (1999)

Isadora Peabody, the awkward scion of an otherwise graceful old Bostonian family in the 1850s, decides to take her fate in her own hands and become a translator on a merchant ship bound for Brazil. The captain, freewheeling Ryan Calhoun, isn’t too happy with this unusual arrangement, but he comes to admire and sympathize with the independent-minded and painfully self-conscious Isadora. At the same time, Isadora realizes that Ryan’s untidiness and occasional bouts of drunkenness disguise a heart and principles and a talent for making out in lush Brazilian gardens. I was absolutely delighted by this romance novel, which is an absolute romp with some terrific character development. 

15. The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness (2009)

In the middle book of the Chaos Walking trilogy, the protagonists reach the end of a long journey, only to find themselves separated and caught between two warring factions. This installment does a great job of elaborating upon the world introduced in the first book, offering new perspectives on old characters, and introducing compelling new conflicts. 

14. Fire with Fire by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian (2013)

In the middle book of the Burn for Burn trilogy, classmates Kat, Lillia, and Mary deal with the fallout of their semi-successful Strangers on a Train-lite revenge scheme. Kat and Lillia want to call it quits, but their sympathy for Mary causes them to agree to one last score, so to speak. Unfortunately, FEELINGS and PAST TRAUMA and DANGEROUS PSYCHIC POWERS complicate matters. Despite my love for Ashes to Ashes, Fire with Fire has a special place in my heart because it’s the first book to explore the characters’ emotions in depth, as well as the first one to go way over the fucking top.

13. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (2018)

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a rash of horrifying home invasion rapes, seemingly meticulously planned, plagued the bedroom communities of Sacramento. Then a series of uncannily similar home invasion murders broke out in the Southern California. In this book published after her death in 2016, McNamara makes the case that this was the work of one person, dubbed the Golden State Killer. McNamara has a clear, humane way of describing grisly and/or convoluted events, and her portrait of the dark side of California suburbia is enthralling. 

12. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (1998)

In 1960, a dangerously determined and self-righteous reverend from the American South travels to the Belgian Congo, even though his own church begged him not to go. He makes the questionable decision to take his exhausted wife and four daughters--vain Rachel, suck-up Leah, nearly mute Adah, and baby Ruth May--along with him. Their new home is a shock to all of them in various ways, and that’s before a personal tragedy and the Congo Crisis enter the picture. Kingsolver makes excellent use of her five viewpoint characters, all of whom have distinctive voices and enjoyably unpredictable (yet entirely appropriate) character arcs.

11. Lighter than My Shadow by Katie Green (2013)

As a young child, Katie has seemingly minor issues around food, but during adolescence she develops a serious eating disorder and almost starves herself to death. A diagnosis and the ensuing support of her parents seem to signal hope, but recovery is more complicated that one might expect. This graphic memoir offers a nuanced portrait of the sheer range of stuff that gets wrapped up in an eating disorder: religion, gender, sex, control, trauma, the desire for independence, and so much more. Green’s “cute” art style enhances the story, both because it makes an interesting contrast to the upsetting material and because it grounds the reader in the humanity of the characters. 

10. Mindhunter by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker (1995)

Throughout the 1970s, FBI agent John Douglas, along with the rest of the Investigative Support Unit, compiled information about an increasingly common type of criminal: the serial killer. Gradually, they developed the practice of criminal profiling. As gruesome as it might sound to call this an excellent beach read, that’s essentially how I experienced it (not that I went anywhere this summer, but still). The pace is fast, the style is engaging, and the authors are frank but not overly lurid in their presentation of the nasty details.

9. The Beggar Maid by Alice Munro (1977)

In this collection of connected short stories, Rose, a bright Canadian girl, grows up in a rough, deprived neighborhood with her sick, stern father and prickly but not unloving stepmother. Life in the wider world brings her mingled pride and shame at her background, a largely disastrous early marriage, and eventually a satisfying but decidedly unglamorous acting career. Munro is a master of description, and she has a sense of fun that puts her head and shoulders above most short story writers. And the title story is just the most perfectly painful exploration of why someone would stay with a partner who is deeply wrong for them.

8. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (2009)

In 1985, seven-year-old Libby Day narrowly escaped death at the hands of her teenage brother, but her mother and two older sisters weren’t so lucky. Except that Libby doesn’t feel so lucky, either, because she’s thirty-one years old with massive trauma, dwindling funds, and few adult life skills. Then a true-crime enthusiast contacts her with an offer: cash in return for investigating whether her brother was actually the murderer. Dark Places may be the awkward middle child of Flynn’s novels, but that reputation is undeserved; it has a thrilling plot, a perversely lovable heroine, and a sly critique of the “Morning in America” view of the 1980s.

7. The Hostage by Susan Wiggs (2000)

In the confusion of the Great Chicago Fire, frontiersman Tom Silver kidnaps heiress Deborah Sinclair, hoping to force her industrialist father into compensating the victims of his negligence. He’s not prepared, though, for her dogged escape attempts, her hard-earned resilience, or the hints that something was horribly wrong in her life even before the kidnapping. I had my doubts about reading a kidnapping romance, but Susan Wiggs proved me wrong. (It helps that Tom’s motives are both understandable AND not presented as an excuse for dragging Deborah into his revenge plan.) The super-slow-burn romance pairs wonderfully with the action-packed plot, and I love Deborah so much.

6. Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (2006)

Troubled reporter Camille Preaker returns to her small Missouri hometown to investigate the grisly murder of one tween girl and the ominous disappearance of another. As upsetting as the case is, it doesn’t hold a candle to what waits for her at home: a softly cruel mother, a barely there stepfather, and a teenage half-sister who alternates between adoring Camille and tormenting her. Sharp Objects entirely deserves its reputation as the best (if not most popular) Flynn novel; it has a beautifully constructed plot, descriptions so lush that you feel like you can reach out and touch Wind Gap (not that you’d want to), and a deeply flawed yet admirable heroine.

5. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (2008)

At nearly thirteen, Todd Hewitt is the youngest resident of Prentisstown, and nobody is ever going to take that distinction away from him. Just after his birth, a plague killed most of the humans on New World, including every woman and girl. What’s more, the same plague made it so the thoughts of men (and most other living creatures) are audible to all. And the mayor of Prentisstown is a religious fanatic who won’t let anyone watch videos or teach kids to read. It’s...not awesome. Then Todd makes a shocking discovery that forces him to flee his community and question everything he knows. This book is a fascinating sci-fi take on the frontier horror story (ala The Scarlet Letter, The Crucible, and, more recently, The Witch) with a read-hundreds-of-pages-a-night plot and astonishing moment of wonder.

4. After the Wedding by Courtney Milan (2018)

Lady Camilla Worth, daughter of an earl who committed suicide to avoid treason charges, has passed from home to unwelcoming home ever since, finally ending up as an unknown housemaid. Adrian Hunter, a mixed-race ceramics heir on a desperate mission to make his family happy, happens to visit the house where she’s employed. Under some very strange circumstances, they’re forced to wed at literal gunpoint. Working together to unravel the mystery and get an annulment, they grow to like each other, which complicates things. This is one of my favorite romance novels ever, with wonderful characters (especially Camilla!), an explosive plot, and masterfully explored themes of healing and being true to oneself.

3. Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children's Literature as an Adult by Bruce Handy (2017)

A famous magazine writer and father of two young children, Handy expounds upon the classics of children’s literature (The Cat in the Hat, Goodnight Moon, the Little House series, Narnia, the Ramona books, etc.). As someone who frequently rereads the favorites of my youth to de-stress (House of Stairs 5eva), the subject was tailor-made for me, and Handy’s execution is impressive. He covers an amazing amount of ground, switches deftly from one mode of analysis to another, and shares plenty of funny anecdotes and moving reflections on parenthood.

2. Blankets by Craig Thompson (2003)

In this autobiographical graphic novel, Craig, a creative, devout, and deeply lonely teenager in rural Wisconsin, meets his first love, Raina, at a church retreat that otherwise would’ve been miserable. They become pen pals and are finally able to arrange for him to spend a few complicated, wonderful weeks with her and her family. Their relationship and its subsequent fallout drive him to confront his conflicted feelings about his faith, his art, and his family. This is an absolutely beautiful story, complemented perfectly by the wintry landscapes and expressive human figures.

1. Breath by Donna Jo Napoli (2003)

Salz, a twelve-year-old boy in medieval Saxony, is dismissed and sometimes even reviled by most of his community, including his own father and brothers, for the unnamed illness that stunts his growth and makes it difficult to breathe. Still, he’s got a lot going on; he helps his beloved grandmother around the house, studies for the priesthood, and belongs to a secret coven. When an abnormally wet spring drives the rats indoors and causes a strange disease to spread among the locals, Salz’s sharp intellect and thirst for knowledge are more needed than ever. This novel is a historically grounded retelling of “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” where the protagonist has cystic fibrosis, and did I ever think I would type that combination of words? No, I did not, but I am so glad things worked out that way. Napoli’s treatment of disability is unusually gratifying, because she illustrates the essential things that a society loses when it dismisses the sick and disabled (as well as some other marginalized groups, such as women). At the same time, Salz’s family and neighbors aren’t cruel for the sake of cruelty; they’re just uninformed, scared, and/or bad at managing their own problems without lashing out at others, which does not absolve them but makes for a more thoughtful story than if they were just bad seeds. The portrayal of Salz’s struggles to reconcile the different sources of wisdom in his life--Church orthodoxy, pagan folk practices, and the knowledge slowly filtering in from the Arabic world--is also fascinating, plus the pathological mystery makes for a tight, exciting plot. All this in less than 300 pages! And do not get me started on how much I love Großmutter.

[floridaprelaw-blog]

The Champlain Towers Collapse

By John Famiglietti, Florida State University Class of 2021

July 8, 2021

A condominium named Champlain Towers in Miami, Florida partially collapsed. The condominium was home to many residents who lived peacefully, but at around 1:30 A.M. that all changed. The overwhelming majority of residents were asleep inside when the building began to crumble. An estimated 55 condominiums fell to the ground from the 11 story building [1]. Sadly however, the horrific accident continues as rescue teams search through the rubble for survivors of the collapse. As of now, there are 5 dead 120 accounted for and 159 unaccounted for since the accident [2]. A fire also lies underneath the rubble creating "incredible difficulties" to search efforts, "It's a very deep fire. It's extremely difficult to locate the source of the fire. So, they've been working around the clock, these fire rescue teams, these brave men and women, under the rubble to fix this problem so they can get on, but it is hampering our search efforts,"says Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade Mayor [1].

She also detailed that the smoke from the fire is also spreading laterally making it harder to locate the source and put it to rest, also stating "We're using everything possible to address this fire. We are using infrared technology. We're using foam. We're using water. All the tactics that we can to contain the fire and minimize the smoke spread" [1]. The other towers still standing have been evacuated as well to protect residents in the scenario that they also collapse. Family and friends of those unaccounted for continue to hope and pray for either closure or success in finding their loved ones alive. Michelle Gurra, daughter of one of the residents, has not heard from her father or stepmother since the collapse states “We’re doing our best to stay hopeful. That’s what they would want,” she said over Facebook Messenger on Saturday. “This is all so horrific and bizarre. They are both such caring, hard working people. They only got married late 2017 and have been living it up like two teenagers in love, traveling the world and eating all they can together. They lived a full time together"[1].

A son of missing resident Judy Spiegel said "As a doctor, I've taken care of a lot of burn patients and trauma patients, and this is not good. And I'm scared to death. I just want my mom back. And we're praying as much as possible. We just want more people to help. So, if there's anyone else that can help, that's all that we want. We love my mom. She's the most amazing person in the world. We would literally do anything because we know that she would do anything for us"[1]. As the country tries to answer the question of if this could have been avoided a 2018 structural report has surfaced. In the report were details of “ Abundant cracking and spalling of various degrees was observed in the concrete columns, beams and walls. Several sizable spalls were noted in both the topside of the entrance drive ramp and underside of the pool/ entrance drive/ planter slabs, which included instances with exposed, deteriorating rebar. Though some of this damage is minor, most of the concrete deterioration needs to be repaired in a timely fashion.”, also included details of previously repaired areas failing [1].  President Joe Biden sent his thoughts and prayers to those affected by the collapse tweeting  “ My heart is with the community of Surfside as they grieve their lost loved ones and wait anxiously as search and rescue efforts continue. Yesterday I spoke with Gov. DeSantis to let him know that we are ready to provide assistance as needed by state and local officials” [3]. Florida's Governor Ron Desantis gave a statement of hope saying there is still opportunity to find survivors, that rescue teams have made contact with some of them, and that reuse workers heard sounds and bangs coming from the rubble possibly indicating more survivors lie underneath [4].    

______________________________________________________________

 [1] Chowdhury, M., Rahim, Z., & Elassar, A. (2021, June 26). Florida building collapse near Miami: Live updates. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/miami-florida-building-collapse-06-26-21-intl/index.html.

[2]Fieldstadt, E., & Talmazan, Y. (2021, June 25). 99 missing, 10 hurt and 1 dead in high-rise collapse near Miami Beach, officials say. NBCNews.com.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rescuers-rush-partial-building-collapse-miami-beach-n1272216.

[3] English, A. S. (2021, June 27). Miami condo collapse live updates from Surfside: causes, survivors, victims: Latest news. AS.com. https://en.as.com/en/2021/06/27/latest_news/1624791347_718172.html.

[4] Mazzei, P., & Fausset, R. (2021, June 24). Harrowing Condo Collapse Near Miami Prompts Frantic Search for Survivors. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/24/us/miami-building-collapse-survivors.html.

[mrmichaelchadler]

The Best Performances of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival

You know how much you loved Elsie Fisher in “Eighth Grade,” Lakeith Stanfield in “Sorry to Bother You,” Toni Collette in “Hereditary,” and Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie in “Leave No Trace”? All of those performances and even more great 2018 acting turns premiered at Sundance in January of 2018. So who gave the performances of Sundance 2019 that you’ll be talking about all year long? These are 12 you’ll want to keep on your cinematic radar.

Awkwafina in “The Farewell”

On the heels of her breakout role in “Crazy Rich Asians,” Awkwafina shows off a new dramatic side in Lulu Wang’s deeply personal movie, “The Farewell.” Here, she plays Billi, the Chinese-American granddaughter of a woman who’s been given a fatal diagnosis but whose doctors and relatives won’t tell her. As the most westernized member of this family, Awkwafina channels the complicated tensions between the two cultures, the immigrant fear of never being able to go home again and of what it means to love someone so much that you’ll go along with the charade of pretending they’re not dying. It’s an emotional yet restrained performance from a comedienne who broke out by playing the most outrageous character in a large ensemble cast. (MC)

Adam Driver in “The Report”

The role of Daniel Jones in Scott Z. Burns’ story of the torture report that revealed the lengths the U.S. government went to under the guise of stopping terrorism could have been a thankless, blank slate of a part. So much of “The Report” is about what Jones discovers that the man himself could have been lost in the paperwork he created. But Driver never lets this happen. He maintains a confident, believable character, never stealing focus from what really matters but also not getting lost in the storytelling. It’s the kind of un-flashy performance that won’t get the credit it deserves for anchoring an entire movie. In other words, it’s what Adam Driver is increasingly good at doing. (BT)

Kelvin Harrison Jr. in “Luce”

The players in Julius Onah’s stylish drama “Luce” are pitched amid various dualities and uncertainties. The title character is no exception—Luce is a star student, a model son to his adoptive parents and a source of inspiration to his community. Then again, he might also have disturbing leanings elsewhere. For anyone who’s seen Kelvin Harrison Jr. in the unnerving “It Comes at Night” (also a film on trust, strengthened by the perspective of the audience), his spot on performance here as a teenager that carries both guilt and innocence with equal persuasiveness won’t come as a surprise. It’s a performance that’s chilling and disarming all at once, while Harrison Jr. swiftly holds his ground against veterans like Octavia Spencer, Tim Roth and Naomi Watts with both nuance and meticulous delivery. (TL)

Zora Howard in “Premature”

In Rashaad Ernesto Green’s romantic drama, “Premature,” Zora Howard plays Ayanna, a teenager who’s coming-of-age and still trying to figure out things in her life. During the summer, she falls for a music producer, Isaiah (Joshua Boone), in a swoon-worthy, whirlwind romance — the kind you think about years after it ends. But few things survive long when you’re seventeen, and Howard smoothly works her way through Ayanna’s deeply felt emotions. From recreating that warm glow in her cheeks during the couple’s honeymoon period to the stiff body language in reaction to their splitting relationship, so much of Ayanna’s story comes from Howard’s expressions and body language. Howard’s sensitive performance feels reminiscent of Kerry Washington’s role in “Our Song” and the independent spirit of Ariyan A. Johnson’s character in “Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.” It’s not a showy performance, but one that sticks with you because of its subtlety and familiarity. (MC)

Noah Jupe in “Honey Boy”

Alma Har’el’s gutsy “Honey Boy” seems like a wall-to-wall therapy session: for its writer Shia LaBeouf (who tells his own condemned life story) and for anyone who’s been raised in the hands of abusive parents. In it, the young actor Noah Jupe—among this year’s sharpest breakthroughs of Sundance—gets caught in the crossfire of it all with a rare opportunity. Playing the young, somewhat fictionalized Shia, he picks up the phone in one scene (it’s mom on the other end) and relays his parents’ fuming words back to each other with startling anger, precision and defeat, just like a grown-up. In another scene, he steps back down to being a child, and begs his father to become a better parent. Jupe steals this movie, displaying range and virtuoso well beyond his young years. (TL)

Riley Keough in “The Lodge”

Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s horror film was one of the most divisive flicks at this year’s Sundance, but even the film’s detractors agreed that Riley Keough does great work in it. It’s an incredibly difficult part in that Grace needs to remain something of a question mark. Not only is she the potentially evil stepmother that our two child protagonists don’t want in their lives, but she may be crazy too. Playing a character with a questionable grip on sanity is an invitation for most performers to chew the scenery but Keough grounds Grace in a way that makes her far more interesting and the final act of the film far more terrifying. It’s just another great turn from an actress who isn’t afraid to choose challenging, unpopular roles, and seems to impress more every time she does. (BT)

Kiki Layne in “Native Son”

The fascinating Ashton Sanders got a great deal of press for his leading turn in the opening night film, but the performance that lingers in my mind more is that of Kiki Layne, who announced her future-star status in “If Beale Street Could Talk” and really cements that here in just a few scenes. Bess could have easily become a two-dimensional archetype, the put-upon girlfriend who exists more as a sounding board for the leading man than a real person. But Layne imbues every choice she makes with realism, adding to the poignancy of the final act. Much as she did with her underrated work in “Beale,” she never makes the wrong choice here. I can’t wait to see what she does next. (BT)

Jonathan Majors in “The Last Black Man in San Francisco”

Joe Talbot’s “The Last Man in San Francisco” mixes symphonic filmmaking with the quiet dreams of its characters, especially for its two leads, Jimmie (Jimmie Fails) and Montgomery (Jonathan Majors). Majors fashions an impeccable earnestness out of a sidekick who could have been lost to quirkiness, and paints a vivid image of a man who clings to his red notebooks and especially the ideas inside, while monologuing to himself on a pier, as if figuring out what means most. Though Fails is the fulcrum of the story, it receives some of its most beautiful moments from Majors’ performance, like when he earnestly yells at a mirror while attempting to try on the aggressiveness of other black men—it’s a funny and tragic note on the story’s sensitive portrayal of black masculinity. Majors’ masterstroke, however, might be a performance sequence in the third act that contains all of the film’s themes, like Linus’ monologue in “A Charlie Brown Christmas Special,” while displaying all of his energy and charisma. Majors’ performance is acting as storytelling in the best ways, and one of many flourishes in Talbot’s unforgettable film. (NA)

Alia Shawkat in “Animals”

Shawkat’s brought many a playful character to the screens large and small, but few roles have allowed her to play such a classy raconteur as she does in Sophie Hyde’s “Animals” Like a poem-filled, sequence-wearing Withnail, Tyler (Shawkat) is the impish answer to Laura (Holliday Grainger), a flailing writer who’s the straight man I to this Withnail. The two best friends are comrades in drugs and parties, but just as they’re approaching their 30s and Laura begins dating a pianist, their close friendship suffers a rift. Although the movie follows Laura more closely, Tyler also experiences her own awakening, giving Shawkat room not just to play a wildcard character but also an emotionally vulnerable person who wants her close friend back in her apartment to share a drink. (MC)

Lauren 'Lolo' Spencer in “Give Me Liberty”

There are a lot of faces and voices that are crammed into “Give Me Liberty,” Kirll Mikhanovsky’s claustrophobic, heartwarming story about a group of people who are united on a van. But one of the most memorable performances belongs to Lauren 'Lolo' Spencer, who enters into the story as one of the clients that Chris Galust's medical transport van driver has to pick up. But she proves to be an excellent, scene-stealing straight-woman against the chaos of the other riders on the van (Vic’s Russian elders, it’s a long story). You get a full sense of her life before and after the times Vic pick her up, as it shows her charisma across expressions of comedy or drama. (NA)

Honor Swinton-Byrne in “The Souvenir”

With her soft, childlike facial features and expressive eyes, Honor Swinton-Byrne (Tilda’s daughter) embodies “The Souvenir’s” Julie—an ambitious film student about to lose her innocence in the hands of a toxic relationship—with a rare kind of exactness. Throughout, she moves with the grace and reluctance of someone acutely aware of both her misfortunes and privileges. As Julie falls deeper into the overwhelming rabbit hole of a young, life-defining love, Swinton-Byrne dials up her helplessness to heartbreaking effect, turning Julie into a real-life character you will both want to shake up and non-judgmentally protect. Having given perhaps the most mournful performance of Sundance, Swinton-Byrne is sure to walk in her mother’s shoes and put her unique stamp on every film she will be in. (Good news: a sequel for “The Souvenir” is already in pre-production.) (TL)

Geraldine Viswanathan in “Hala”

Geraldine Viswanathan is well on her way to being a star, and her lead role in Minhal Baig’s “Hala” should accelerate the process. Playing a Muslim teenager of first-generation immigrant parents in Chicago, this role is a marvelous display of how Viswanathan can present the process of contemplation, an excellent fit for a character who can internal as tries to navigate the world. She has a striking precision with emotion, offering a lot to be read between the lines in a way that registers as raw and compelling whether it’s in thinking about how she feels about her first major sexual encounter, or observing her parents’ marriage slowly start to fall apart. It lets the majority of “Hala” play out with more subtlety, honoring the quiet ways in which maturity finds and changes us. (NA)

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