#hearing test Adelaide

[hearingadelaide]

What to Expect During Your First Hearing Test: A Comprehensive Guide

As we journey through life, our senses play a crucial role in how we experience the world around us. Our ability to hear, in particular, connects us to the symphony of sounds that define our daily existence. Yet, for many, the gradual onset of hearing loss can go unnoticed until it begins to impact our interactions and relationships.

If you suspect that your hearing might be changing, taking the first step towards addressing it can be intimidating. However, understanding what to expect during your first hearing test can alleviate some of that uncertainty. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate through the process.

Preparation:

Before your appointment, it’s helpful to jot down any concerns or questions you have about your hearing. Consider your family history with hearing loss and any exposure you've had to loud noises, as these can be significant factors. Arriving well-rested and relaxed can also ensure that you're in the right mindset to absorb information and communicate effectively with your audiologist.

The Assessment:

Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by a friendly staff member who will guide you through the initial paperwork. Following this, you'll meet with an audiologist who will conduct a thorough examination of your ears and hearing capabilities. This typically involves a combination of physical examinations and auditory tests.

Physical Examination:

The audiologist will visually inspect your ears using an otoscope to check for any blockages, infections, or abnormalities. This step is painless and helps rule out any external factors that may be affecting your hearing.

Audiometric Testing:

The core of the assessment revolves around audiometric testing, which measures your ability to hear sounds at various frequencies and volumes. You'll be asked to wear headphones and respond to tones by indicating when you hear them. This helps the audiologist determine the softest sounds you can hear at different frequencies, plotting your results on an audiogram.

Discussion and Diagnosis:

Once the testing is complete, your audiologist will review the results with you. They will explain your audiogram, highlighting any areas of concern and answering any questions you may have. If hearing loss is detected, they will discuss the type and degree of your impairment and its potential causes. This is also an opportunity to explore treatment options, which may include hearing aids, assistive listening devices, or referral to an ear, nose, and throat specialist for further evaluation.

Next Steps:

After your hearing test, you'll have a clearer understanding of your auditory health and potential avenues for improvement. If hearing aids are recommended, your audiologist will guide you through the selection process, ensuring that you find a solution that fits your lifestyle and budget.

Conclusion:

Your first hearing test marks the beginning of your journey towards better hearing health. By knowing what to expect and actively participating in the assessment process, you empower yourself to make informed decisions about your auditory well-being. Remember, addressing hearing loss early can significantly improve your quality of life, allowing you to stay connected to the sounds that matter most. So, don't hesitate to schedule your hearing test today and take that crucial step towards a world of clearer, more vibrant sound. If you're in Adelaide, finding a reputable provider for your Hearing Test Adelaide can be a significant step towards better hearing.

[hearingtestadelaide]

Hearing Test - What You Need to Know

Hearing tests serve two primary functions. First, they measure your hearing level; secondly, they identify any ear issues that might impact it; and finally, they reveal whether other medical problems could interfere with hearing.

Hearing tests are an easy, quick, and painless way to determine whether you have hearing loss. Furthermore, they may detect other issues before they become chronic or severe.

Pure-tone audiometry

An audiological hearing test is designed to provide insight into how your ears operate, typically performed by a doctor or hearing health professional such as an audiologist.

At this type of hearing test Adelaide, a hearing care professional plays various pure tones at different frequencies until you can no longer detect these tones.

Your doctor can then use these results to create an audiogram (which displays hearing thresholds) that helps you understand the severity of your hearing problem and whether hearing aids may be needed.

Additionally, this test helps identify whether you have conductive or sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound cannot travel from its source into your inner ear through the ear canal or eardrum; sensorineural hearing loss occurs due to issues in nerve pathways connecting the outer and middle ears to the brain.

Otoacoustic emissions (OAE)

An OAE hearing test Adelaide involves placing a small probe with a microphone and speaker into your ear canal, with sounds produced stimulating your inner-ear hair cells to test them out.

Hair cells vibrate to create a tranquil sound that echoes back through your middle ear; an audiologist then measures this signal to assess how well your hearing is working.

To enhance the quality of recordings, reducing ambient and patient (physiologic) noise levels with a high-pass filter is crucial. This will significantly decrease low-frequency noise production and enable you to record an OAE more clearly.

OAE testing can be an invaluable way to diagnose hearing loss in those unable to complete conventional audiometry or too young for pure tone audiometry testing. Furthermore, OAE can help identify and treat various hearing-related conditions.

Tympanometry

Tympanometry is an integral part of hearing test Adelaide that allows professionals to establish the condition and movement of the eardrum. In addition, the test measures how quickly it responds to changes in air pressure.

Tympanometry machines are used to take measurements and create a graph called a tympanogram, which displays peak (maximum) eardrum movement as it reacts to changes in pressure.

An abnormal "flat" tympanogram may indicate fluid or other conditions preventing normality; such conditions could affect fluid retention in the middle ear.

Children and adults undergo tympanometry as part of a comprehensive audiological evaluation and to conduct OAEs. Based on the results of your tympanogram, your doctor may prescribe medications or refer you to a specialist for further testing.

Auditory brainstem response (ABR)

ABR (Automatic Brain Response) testing measures how well your ears detect sound and relay it to the brain. This form of a hearing test is constructive for infants or small children who cannot cooperate with traditional methods for testing or anyone unable to cooperate in regular hearing assessments.

ABR uses electrodes to record brain wave activity in response to sounds heard through earphones, providing data that helps determine if there is an issue with your hearing nerve or an obstruction in one of the pathways carrying sound to the brain, potentially leading to symptoms like difficulty understanding conversational speech, ringing in ears, fullness in ears or balance issues.

ABR measures far-field reflections of potentials arising in auditory nerve and brainstem auditory pathways during the first 10-15 ms following transient acoustic stimuli, typically at frequencies from 20Hz-20kHz.

[hearingclinicadelaide]

Your Guide to Tinnitus Treatment with Hearing Aids

Tinnitus, often described as a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears, can significantly impact a person's quality of life. It's a condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide, and while there's no definitive cure, hearing aids have emerged as a valuable tool in managing tinnitus symptoms. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the world of tinnitus treatment with hearing aids, exploring how they work, their benefits, and what you need to know to make an informed decision about using them to alleviate tinnitus.

Understanding Tinnitus

Before we dive into the role of hearing aids in tinnitus treatment, it's crucial to understand what tinnitus is. Tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying issue, such as age-related hearing loss, exposure to loud noises, or ear injuries. It's often characterized by the perception of sounds like ringing, buzzing, hissing, or clicking in the absence of external noise. Tinnitus can be subjective (only the person experiencing it can hear the sounds) or objective (a healthcare provider can also hear the sounds using specialized equipment).

How Hearing Aids Work

Hearing aids are electronic devices designed to amplify sounds and improve hearing. They consist of three main components: a microphone, an amplifier, and a speaker. When sound enters the microphone, it's converted into an electrical signal and amplified before being sent to the speaker and into the ear. For individuals with tinnitus, hearing aids offer several benefits in managing their condition:

1. Sound Masking: Hearing aids can generate background noise or "white noise" that helps mask the tinnitus sounds. This can make the tinnitus less noticeable and more manageable.

2. Improved Communication: Clearer hearing, provided by hearing aids, allows individuals to focus on conversations and external sounds instead of the persistent tinnitus noise.

3. Auditory Stimulation: Hearing aids stimulate the auditory system, which can help reduce the brain's perception of tinnitus sounds over time.

Choosing the Right Hearing Aids for Tinnitus

Selecting the right hearing aids for tinnitus management is crucial. Here are some factors to consider:

1. Consultation with an Audiologist: Start by consulting with an audiologist who specializes in tinnitus treatment. They can assess your specific tinnitus condition and recommend suitable hearing aids.

2. Tinnitus-Specific Features: Some hearing aids come with tinnitus-specific features, such as customizable sound therapy programs designed to target your unique tinnitus frequencies.

3. Comfort and Fit: Ensure your hearing aids are comfortable to wear and fit properly. Ill-fitting hearing aids can cause discomfort and reduce their effectiveness.

4. Technology and Connectivity: Consider the level of technology you need, including features like Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio and smartphone app control.

Benefits of Using Hearing Aids for Tinnitus

Using hearing aids for tinnitus management can offer numerous advantages:

1. Reduced Tinnitus Perception: Hearing aids can help diminish the awareness of tinnitus sounds, allowing you to focus on daily activities without constant distraction.

2. Improved Overall Hearing: In addition to tinnitus relief, hearing aids can enhance your ability to hear and understand conversations, music, and other sounds.

3. Better Quality of Life: Many individuals report improved emotional well-being and an enhanced quality of life after using hearing aids for tinnitus management.

4. Customization: Modern hearing aids offer customizable features, allowing you and your audiologist to tailor settings to address your specific tinnitus needs.

Tips for Adjusting to Hearing Aids and Tinnitus Management

Adapting to hearing aids and using them effectively for tinnitus management may take time. Here are some tips for a smoother transition:

1. Patience: Understand that it may take several weeks or even months for your brain to fully adjust to hearing aids and for the tinnitus relief to become more apparent.

2. Regular Follow-Up: Schedule follow-up appointments with your audiologist to fine-tune your hearing aids and ensure they are addressing your tinnitus effectively.

3. Consistent Use: Wear your hearing aids consistently, even in quiet environments. This helps your brain habituate to the background sounds provided by the hearing aids.

Conclusion

Tinnitus can be a challenging condition to live with, but hearing aids and tinnitus treatment have proven to be valuable tools in managing its impact. With the right hearing aids, expert guidance from an audiologist, and patience during the adjustment period, you can experience significant relief from tinnitus and enjoy a better quality of life. If you or a loved one is struggling with tinnitus, consider exploring the potential benefits of hearing aids as part of your tinnitus treatment plan. Remember, managing tinnitus is a journey, and with the right support, it's a journey you don't have to take alone.

[adelaidehearingclinic]

Best Hearing Service Program | Adelaide Hearing

A Hearing Service Program is a Comprehensive Program Designed to Assist Individuals with Hearing Loss. It is a Specialized Service that Includes Various Activities and Resources to help People with Hearing Disabilities Live Fulfilling Lives. This Program is Typically Provided by Hearing Healthcare Professionals, Such as audiologists or hearing aid specialists, who have expertise in hearing assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. The Hearing Service Program usually involves a range of services, including hearing evaluations, hearing aid fittings, counseling, and education. Call 0883572290 to reach Adelaide Hearing Center in Australia.

[perfectlysunny02]

sunny!!

can i hear about written the stars?

moon!! yes! i'll tell you about it and give you a snippet!

so basically, i watched a walk to remember and i was like this would hurt so good as a bucktommy fic and so i started writing it and then my brain was like "give them a kid, make it hurt more!" and so Adelaide was born😭 buck has cancer and tommy is struggling with it, and so is the firefam and Adelaide (their daughter) and buck just wants to make sure his family is okay. the ending is undecided right now but who knows at this point lol

Tommy feels like he can’t breathe, and he’s not sure he even heard the doctor right. Cancer? No. There’s no way, not Evan-  “No.” he says suddenly, interrupting the doctor as he’s telling Evan his options. “No. You’re wrong. Evan doesn’t have cancer. Evan can’t have cancer. Evan’s healthy, he’s vegan for crying out loud. He’s active, and he fights fires. He never stops moving. No, my husband doesn’t have cancer. Your tests are wrong-” “Mr. Kinard-” “No! Your tests are wrong. Retest him. We have a seven-year-old daughter, for God’s sake. Her father can’t have cancer, there’s no-”

ask me about my wips!

[doctorwho-rewatch]

S4 Special 3 - The Waters of Mars

★★★★★

It's incredibly difficult for me to capture every aspect of why this was masterful storytelling in a short review. The concept of waterborne parasitic monsters is horrifying and I genuinely felt terrified when the water began leaking throughout the base and each worker succumbed to it. Doctor Who horror at its best.

But the central theme here (arguably) is whether the Doctor can cheat death. Can he cheat a fixed point in time? At the end of the previous episode, he was told he would hear four knocks. His journey is coming to an end - and he is going to find any way around it.

So when he ends up on Mars, another base-under-siege situation, this is a test run for him. He knows beforehand that Captain Adelaide Brooke's death on this day is not only a fixed point in time, but so pivotal for the future of the human race and their migration to the stars. He knows that but he also needs to know that he can cheat his way around that.

What follows is a prolonged and profoundly depressing sequence of events from the base - where worker by worker succumbs to the Flood, the remainder desperately trying to pack and leave in their rocket, only for the virus to have found its way there. The alarms are blaring and the water is seeping through the cracks and a decision is made to blow the whole thing up to quarantine the infection.

The Doctor saves Captain Adelaide and the few other survivors and brings them back to Earth. He is triumphant. He is cocky. He can cheat death. Time and space bends to his will. He is the Time Lord Victorious and no one can stop him.

Captain Adelaide relieves the Doctor of his arrogance almost instantly. She is horrified by what he's done, and more imprtantly, what he's prevented by his insanely self-serving actions. No one should have that kind of power, she snaps at him. And so she kills herself as a fuck you to the Doctor. The vainful, arrogant Doctor that he has become has to face the reality that no one is greater than time and space itself. His hubris has caught up with him.

QUOTE: "...And everything starts with you, Adelaide. From fifty years ago to right here. Today." "Who are you? Why are you telling me this? Doctor? Why tell me?" "As consolation."

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

New SpaceTime out Monday

SpaceTime 20241028 Series 27 Episode 130

Our understanding of the evolution of the universe thrown into question

A new study has found the epoch of reionization a crucial period of the early evolution of the universe occurred at least 350 million years far earlier than previously thought.

Old data yields new secrets as NASA's DAVINCI is prepped for Venus mission

Due to launch in the early 2030s, NASA's DAVINCI mission will investigate whether Venus - a sweltering world wrapped in an atmosphere of noxious gases - once had oceans and continents like Earth.

China tests its first reusable satellite

China has successfully tested its first reusable satellite.

The Science Report

Hearing loss linked to Parkinson's disease.

Palaeontologists discover one Earth’s earliest life forms in the South Australian outback.

A third of frog habitats becoming arid.

Skeptics guide to anti-vaxers winning the PR battle

SpaceTime covers the latest news in astronomy & space sciences.

The show is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Apple Podcasts (itunes), Stitcher, Google Podcast, Pocketcasts, SoundCloud, Bitez.com, YouTube, your favourite podcast download provider, and from www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com

SpaceTime is also broadcast through the National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio and on both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

SpaceTime daily news blog: http://spacetimewithstuartgary.tumblr.com/

SpaceTime facebook: www.facebook.com/spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime Instagram @spacetimewithstuartgary

SpaceTime twitter feed @stuartgary

SpaceTime YouTube: @SpaceTimewithStuartGary

SpaceTime -- A brief history

SpaceTime is Australia’s most popular and respected astronomy and space science news program – averaging over two million downloads every year. We’re also number five in the United States.  The show reports on the latest stories and discoveries making news in astronomy, space flight, and science.  SpaceTime features weekly interviews with leading Australian scientists about their research.  The show began life in 1995 as ‘StarStuff’ on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) NewsRadio network.  Award winning investigative reporter Stuart Gary created the program during more than fifteen years as NewsRadio’s evening anchor and Science Editor.  Gary’s always loved science. He studied astronomy at university and was invited to undertake a PHD in astrophysics, but instead focused on his career in journalism and radio broadcasting. Gary’s radio career stretches back some 34 years including 26 at the ABC. He worked as an announcer and music DJ in commercial radio, before becoming a journalist and eventually joining ABC News and Current Affairs. He was part of the team that set up ABC NewsRadio and became one of its first on air presenters. When asked to put his science background to use, Gary developed StarStuff which he wrote, produced and hosted, consistently achieving 9 per cent of the national Australian radio audience based on the ABC’s Nielsen ratings survey figures for the five major Australian metro markets: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth.  The StarStuff podcast was published on line by ABC Science -- achieving over 1.3 million downloads annually.  However, after some 20 years, the show finally wrapped up in December 2015 following ABC funding cuts, and a redirection of available finances to increase sports and horse racing coverage.  Rather than continue with the ABC, Gary resigned so that he could keep the show going independently.  StarStuff was rebranded as “SpaceTime”, with the first episode being broadcast in February 2016.  Over the years, SpaceTime has grown, more than doubling its former ABC audience numbers and expanding to include new segments such as the Science Report -- which provides a wrap of general science news, weekly skeptical science features, special reports looking at the latest computer and technology news, and Skywatch – which provides a monthly guide to the night skies. The show is published three times weekly (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and available from the United States National Science Foundation on Science Zone Radio, and through both i-heart Radio and Tune-In Radio.

[sergeantpixie]

Thanks for tagging me @forasecondtherewedwon!

rules: list 5 of your favourite books on a poll, so your followers can vote which book they think captures your vibe the best

Tagging: @morocorra, @imperpetuallylost, @randomestfandoms, @woodswit, and anyone else who wants to!

Book summaries from Goodreads below the cut:

Libba Bray's The Diviners:

Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult. Evie worries her uncle will discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer. As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho is hiding a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened…

Ami McKay's The Witches of New York:

The year is 1880. Two hundred years after the trials in Salem, Adelaide Thom ('Moth' from The Virgin Cure) has left her life in the sideshow to open a tea shop with another young woman who feels it's finally safe enough to describe herself as a witch: a former medical student and "gardien de sorts" (keeper of spells), Eleanor St. Clair. Together they cater to Manhattan's high society ladies, specializing in cures, palmistry and potions--and in guarding the secrets of their clients. 

All is well until one bright September afternoon, when an enchanting young woman named Beatrice Dunn arrives at their door seeking employment. Beatrice soon becomes indispensable as Eleanor's apprentice, but her new life with the witches is marred by strange occurrences. She sees things no one else can see. She hears voices no one else can hear. Objects appear out of thin air, as if gifts from the dead. Has she been touched by magic or is she simply losing her mind? 

Eleanor wants to tread lightly and respect the magic manifest in the girl, but Adelaide sees a business opportunity. Working with Dr. Quinn Brody, a talented alienist, she submits Beatrice to a series of tests to see if she truly can talk to spirits. Amidst the witches' tug-of-war over what's best for her, Beatrice disappears, leaving them to wonder whether it was by choice or by force. 

As Adelaide and Eleanor begin the desperate search for Beatrice, they're confronted by accusations and spectres from their own pasts. In a time when women were corseted, confined and committed for merely speaking their minds, were any of them safe?

Megan Abbott's Dare Me:

Addy Hanlon has always been Beth Cassidy's best friend and trusted lieutenant. Beth calls the shots and Addy carries them out, a long-established order of things that has brought them to the pinnacle of their high-school careers. Now they're seniors who rule the intensely competitive cheer squad, feared and followed by the other girls—until the young new coach arrives.

Cool and commanding, an emissary from the adult world just beyond their reach, Coach Colette French draws Addy and the other cheerleaders into her life. Only Beth, unsettled by the new regime, remains outside Coach's golden circle, waging a subtle but vicious campaign to regain her position as "top girl"—both with the team and with Addy herself.

Then a suicide focuses a police investigation on Coach and her squad. After the first wave of shock and grief, Addy tries to uncover the truth behind the death—and learns that the boundary between loyalty and love can be dangerous terrain.

Nina LaCour's Everything Leads to You:

A wunderkind young set designer, Emi has already started to find her way in the competitive Hollywood film world.   Emi is a film buff and a true romantic, but her real-life relationships are a mess. She has desperately gone back to the same girl too many times to mention. But then a mysterious letter from a silver screen legend leads Emi to Ava. Ava is unlike anyone Emi has ever met. She has a tumultuous, not-so-glamorous past, and lives an unconventional life. She’s enigmatic…. She’s beautiful. And she is about to expand Emi’s understanding of family, acceptance, and true romance.

Sarah Rees Brennan's Tell the Wind & Fire:

In a city divided between opulent luxury in the Light and fierce privations in the Dark, a determined young woman survives by guarding her secrets. 

Lucie Manette was born in the Dark half of the city, but careful manipulations won her a home in the Light, celebrity status, and a rich, loving boyfriend. Now she just wants to keep her head down, but her boyfriend has a dark secret of his own—one involving an apparent stranger who is destitute and despised. Lucie alone knows the young men’s deadly connection, and even as the knowledge leads her to make a grave mistake, she can trust no one with the truth.

Blood and secrets alike spill out when revolution erupts. With both halves of the city burning, and mercy nowhere to be found, can Lucie save either boy—or herself?

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

reading update: july 2023

I don't have a cool and witty opening for this one. I read a fuck of a lot of books this month and I want to tell you about them LET'S GO

Black Water Sister (Zen Cho, 2021) - Black Water Sister has a very fun premise: a closeted lesbian and unemployed recent graduate moves back to Malaysia with her parents and is already having a bad enough time when she starts hearing the voice of her dead grandmother, who turns out to have been deeply involved in supernatural organized crime. our hapless protagonist becomes a medium against her will, and has to navigate to world of Malaysian spirits and superstition to lay her grandma to rest. unfortunately the actual style of the story wasn't more me; although definitely adult fiction, the prose is breezy in a way I affiliate strongly with YA, which is not to my personal taste but is still so hashtag valid. if you're one of the countless people trying to make that jump from YA to adult fiction and you like queer urban fantasy then Black Water Sister might be a great fit for you, although I should provide a warning for a pretty surprisingly graphic near-rape in the book's climax that really took me by surprise in a story that's otherwise pretty zany in its violence.

The Bride Test (Helen Hoang, 2019) - I think I said last month that Alexis Hall's A Lady for a Duke was the best so far of the romance-novel-every-month scheme I'm trying to pull off this year. the Bride Test has pretty swiftly displaced it; have I finally discovered the really good romance novels? (worry not; I know what I'm reading for August and my hopes are. low.) our two protagonists, Mỹ/Esme (her chosen American/English name) and Khai, are both genuinely charming and are pretty strong characters independent of each other, which cannot be said for A Lot of romance protags. despite the absolute insanity of how they met (yes, Khai's mother went to Vietnam and offered, uneducated a poor single mother a tourist visa in exchange for trying to seduce her autistic son. yes, that's shady. don't think about it too hard) and Esme waiting until WAY too late in the game to reveal the existence of HER LIVING HUMAN CHILD, I liked this book a lot. it's silly and heartfelt and I had fun; what else do you need? 5/5 eggplant emojis.

Giovanni's Room (James Baldwin, 1956) - there's probably nothing I can say about Giovanni's Room that I could say that someone smarter and gayer hasn't already said, but god. it really is breathtaking. I so often see this book talked about as a gay tragedy, and honestly that feels like almost too glib of a description. it's a really meticulous dissection of white male masculinity and the claustrophobic constraints there of, and our narrator's claustrophobic fear of divesting himself from the power that he's entitled to by virtue of being a white American man perceived as a heterosexual. this man would rather live in repressed misery for his entire life than risk being like those effeminate faggots at the gay club, but spoiler alert! being miserable doesn't make you better than your fellow fags; it just means you're miserable AND a fag. sharp and painful and so so so smart. also I'm going to summon @zaricats because I was supposed to tell you what I thought about this book. oops!

Lone Women (Victor LaValle, 2023) - okay so listen. did I just say Black Water Sister wasn't really for me because of the simplistic prose? yes. did I really enjoy the very sparse, straightforward style of Lone Women? also yes. leave me alone, I contain contradictions. anyway, Lone Women is a ripping piece of historical fiction spliced with supernatural secrets, based on LaValle's research into 19th century Black women homesteaders who made their lives in Montana. LaValle opens on a scene of irresistible intrigue - Adelaide Henry, lone woman, sets out for Montana with a mysteriously heavy trunk after burning down her family's California farm with her parents' mutilated corpses inside. and boy, does it escalate from there! it's a story about isolation and community and the people who are failed by so-called close knit small towns, and the ways in which vulnerable people band together to protect one another. it also makes the compelling point that maybe, just maybe, the real monsters were your local transphobe and her husband's lynch mob all along.

Black Disability Politics (Sami Schalk, 2022) - what a cool book! Schalk's argument begins with the idea that Black disability politics are distinct from predominantly white mainstream disability politics, and are therefore often overlooked in conversation, activism, and academia. Schalk analyzes the historical work of the Black Panthers and the National Black Women's Health Project to showcase what she describes as Black disability politics in action. in Schalk's conception, Black disability politics take a much more holistic approach to disability, conceptualizing as just one form (and, frequently, as a result of) of oppression tangled up with a myriad of others that cannot be meaningfully addressed when they're treated as separate issues. the book concludes in interviews with contemporary Black disability activists and organizers that shed light on ways in which the wider movement is often unwelcoming to folks of color, and an exhortation from Schalk for readers to continue the conversation well beyond the confines of the book. in a killer show of praxis, the entire book has been made available to read in PDF form, and I strongly recommend giving it a look!

The River of Silver (S.A. Chakraborty, 2022) - mentally I am kicking myself a little for waiting so long to read this continuation of my beloved Daevabad trilogy, because it did take me a minute to get back into the swing and mythology of the world and that did make me feel unpleasantly like I wasn't appreciating these character-focused short stories as much as I could be. but even having said that - man! fuck I love the world of Daevabad, and I adore these characters so much. getting to see them again, even briefly, was a delight, and I am once again congratulating Nahri and Ali on being the invention of heterosexual romance. (also, on a related note, but I ADORE the way Chakraborty writes her characters having crushes. they crush SO hard and it's very sweet. these books are such big drama all the way down.)

Men We Reaped (Jesmyn Ward, 2013) - an absolute powerhouse of a memoir, and devastating the whole way down. in Men We Reaped Ward attempts to make sense of a series of tragedies that befell her community when five young Black men - beginning with Ward's younger brother - died between 2000 and 2004. the word 'unflinching' is hopelessly played out, but it's difficult to figure out how to describe the head-on way Ward explores each young man's life and ultimate end and her own upbringing. the men in Ward's history - her brother, the friends she lost, her father and other male relatives - are never idealized; their demons, miseries, infidelities, addictions, and violence are placed on full display. but Ward is also insistent on displaying these men with dignity, compassion, empathy; showing them at their best and, most importantly, as men who were loved and deserved better than the violence that poverty and racism wrought on them. it's a furious memoir, one that will leave you mourning too.

Nimona (ND Stevenson, 2015) - did I only read this so I can make more informed complaints if/when I end up watching the netflix movie with my wife? YES. but listen, it wasn't JUST petty hater behavior. Nimona is just really good, and I think I got a lot more out of it this time around that I did when I first read it years ago. this comic is wild and unfettered and so spectacularly weird; I wish more things felt the way Nimona does. I also with more things starred small girls begging to kill cops and stage a violent overthrow of the government, that rules hard. also man I love Ballister, he's SUCH a good protagonist. he's curmudgeonly, he's deeply principled, he's held a grudge for years, he's paternal, he's even gay. what a guy!

[sloanesallow]

The Call of the Void | Chapter 2

Shy girl meets distracted boy. Chaos ensues. This is my "canon" retelling of Siobhan Sloane and Sebastian Sallow's story. (full synopsis here. Chapter Summary: Sebastian finds himself in the middle of a gossip session at the opening feast. Chapter warnings: Discussions about blood status, bigotry against muggles/muggleborns and use of the m word, as well as some misogynistic comments. [Ao3] | [Wattpad] [PREVIOUS] | [NEXT]

II: R u m o r s

“Did you hear about Cooper and Weasley?”

“Which Weasley?”

“The older one, with the red hair.”

“They all have red hair!”

“Well, then—the taller one! Anyways…Adelaide told Evangeline, who told Samantha…”

Sebastian Sallow is not one to pay attention to gossip.

As enthusiastic as the chattering girls at the Slytherin table are, rumor and hearsay simply do not align with his pursuit of knowledge. No, Sebastian very much prefers facts—the truth. One might argue that gossip is knowledge, the kind that can be used as currency to climb the social ladder. It’s certainly how many of witches and wizards within the Ministry of Magic earned their power, but Sebastian isn’t interested in social politics or participating in the student hierarchy that is as fickle as a Hippogriff.

Instead, Sebastian focuses on his studies. He is by no means a perfect student—and the record number of detentions is proof of that enough—but he is knowledgeable, and always manages to score well on tests and practice O.W.L.s, despite his behavior. He’s always been a curious boy, something his parents fostered, and something his uncle chastises. All the more reason to keep his nose in a book, if only to keep his parent’s memories alive, and antagonize uncle Solomon—even if it means sleeping in the storage shed behind their Feldcroft cottage as punishment.

This year, however, Sebastian has even more incentive to hide himself away in the library, and it has nothing to do with getting a head start on next year’s N.E.W.T.s. He glances up from the book spread out before him, frowning at the empty space on the other side of the table where his twin sister Anne should be. No doubt she’d be excitedly gossiping away with Grace-Pinch Smedley and Violet McDowell, but Sebastian wouldn’t mind because it would mean she was here and healthy at Hogwarts, instead of cooped up in Feldcroft with uncle Solomon.

Cursed.

This year, Sebastian is determined to find a cure, regardless of the sacrifices he must make. No matter the cost to his own well-being, or how many more detentions with Professor Binns he’ll need to endure, he will find a cure for Anne.

It is precisely why that instead of paying attention to anything Headmaster Black is saying as he monotonously welcomes students to the opening feast, Sebastian is reading his latest find, a book procured (and definitely not stolen) from Tomes and Scrolls. At least he is trying to read, but it is already difficult enough to translate Latin, harder still when all he can hear is girlish giggling.

He glowers at the pair. “Do you mind?”

“Do you?” Grace scoffs, rolling her eyes. Sebastian supposes she could be considered pretty, if she wasn’t such an arrogant snob, all because of her family name. “Only you would bring an old, smelly book to the sorting ceremony, Sallow.”

Violet’s expression is just as conceited. “Are you sure you don’t want to sit with the Ravenclaws instead?”

The two girls look over their shoulders and Sebastian follows their eye lines to the next table over, a proverbial sea of blue. One of the Eagles, Amit Thakkar, notices the group and eagerly waves. Grace and Violet swivel back, not even bothering to stifle their snickering. To his left, there is a soft smirk, and Sebastian turns to see his friend—his best friend—Ominis Gaunt, biting back a grin.

“Et tu, Ominis?”

“They have a point,” he replies, tilting his head in a way that signifies he actually wants to hear what the Headmaster has to say.

Sebastian grumbles, pressing the lower half of his face into his palm as he rests his elbow on the table. He keeps his eyes on the text, but he isn’t really reading, especially when Grace and Violet return to their blathering.

“I heard there’s to be a new student at Hogwarts this year.”

“There are new students every year.”

“Yes, but this one is starting as a fifth year.”

Sebastian raises an eyebrow, not that he means to eavesdrop, but it isn’t like they are whispering.

“A transfer student then,” Imelda, to his right, decides to join in on the conversation. Reyes isn’t typically one for rumors either, but it seems her curiosity is piqued.

Grace shakes her head. “My father, you know he works at the Ministry, he said that she only received their owl this summer.”

“She?” Violet and Imelda seek to clarify.

“Mmhm,” Grace nods, obviously enjoying being the momentary center of attention, the one to share such important information. “A farmgirl, so I’m told. Can you believe it? She’s a muggleborn.”

If Grace meant to whisper the last word, she’d done a piss-poor job. Sebastian frowns into his palm at the various disapproving expressions on his house-mates faces. Even though he is a so-called pureblood wizard, he’s never been one to form an opinion of someone based on their blood status or family name. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many of his classmates, raised up to ostracize anyone who goes against the status-quo.

“Great,” an older boy seated next to Violet murmurs. One of the Malfoy brood, always quick to share a bigoted opinion. “Another mudblood.”

The derogatory word rings in Sebastian’s ears, but doesn’t seem to bother the others. He clenches his teeth, staring down at his book until the word magicae becomes more foreign than it already is.

“How fun,” this time it is one of Black’s sons, grinning like the devil himself. At the other’s speculative looks, he continues with a laugh. “Muggleborns are fun to break, if you catch my meaning. They haven’t a clue about wizarding society, and thus are so easy to seduce and scandalize,” he explains. “They make the best virgins.”

“Oh will you please just shut up!”

It isn’t until the group is staring at him that Sebastian realizes he’s said anything. His outburst seems to surprise even Ominis, whose eyebrows are raised in alarm. He flounders for a moment, muttering something about indecency that goes ignored. This time, he tunes out their chatter with a sigh.

Crude as their discussion is—not that he wants to call it a discussion—it isn’t like Sebastian hasn’t thought about…well, what hot-blooded, puberty stricken teenaged boy doesn’t think about sex? He isn’t naive enough not to notice the changes to his body and mind, and how the other girls in his year and above are more alluring than usual. His education on the matter is as secondhand as his other extra-curricular research, though the restricted section has some tantalizing selections, enough to fill his imagination and keep him sated, for now.

It simply isn’t a priority to snog or shag, not now. Finding a cure for Anne is far more important than bedding someone. Besides, it isn’t like he has a line of potential romp-mates waiting in a queue. Not that he has a poor self-worth, but Sebastian can’t see himself being on any of his classmates lists as a potential suitor, let alone someone to fumble around with in some secret part of the castle. He has too many burdens and is perhaps, at the end of the day, just plain weird.

“Well if she’s starting in her fifth year, she can’t be that talented,” Imelda says, and as rude as the comment is, Sebastian is almost inclined to agree. Most witches and wizards gain their magic in adolescence. For him and Anne, they were nine, making toads float in the family garden. “Wait, is that…her?”

Distracted by the conversation, none at the Slytherin table (expect perhaps Ominis, with his wand to see for him) noticed Headmaster Black’s abrupt disappearance and return to the Great Hall. More than a few paces behind him is Professor Fig, followed by a girl. Everyone, including Sebastian, sit up a little straighter in an attempt to catch a glimpse, but it isn’t until she’s at the front dais that her form is clearly visible.

“Merlin,” Imelda whispers. “She looks petrified!”

Sebastian is intrigued enough that he inspects the girl as well as he can from where he’s sitting. The farmgirl, as Grace so eloquently called her, admittedly does look worse for wear. Her pale-blond hair is disheveled and the standard house-robe seems to weigh her down. As she’s instructed to sit on the rickety stool to be sorted, it’s obvious to see her hesitation. Her wide eyes stare out into the sea of unfamiliar faces and—

“Has she been crying?”

“She looks like a wet kneazle!”

Grace and Violet lean into each other in a lame attempt to mute their amusement. Sebastian glares at them, biting his tongue to prevent another outburst. He can’t help but think back to the first time he ever arrived at Hogwarts with Anne, the two unwilling to let go of one another’s hand until they were forced apart to be sorted. She had gone first, claiming her birthright as the older twin (and alphabetically came first anyways), and was quickly sorted into Slytherin. Sometimes Sebastian wonders if the Hat showed him some mercy by sorting him into the same house so they wouldn’t be separated.

Cruel fate would see to that.

“Better be…Hufflepuff!”

The sudden cheers from the other side of the hall pull him from his melancholy thoughts. So the new fifth-year is a Hufflepuff? The badgers cheer for their newest addition, and Sebastian thinks it is for the best—a nervous chit like her wouldn’t last a day in Slytherin, or Gryffindor for that matter. As she slowly makes her way to sit with her new house-mates, Headmaster Black continues his speech as if the interruption never happened. Imelda curses and almost stands to loudly disagree when it’s announced that Quidditch is canceled, but Nerida Roberts tugs her back down. 

Curiosity has Sebastian flicking his gaze through the throng of students, locating the new girl where she is seemingly making awkward conversation with Poppy Sweeting and Lenora —Merlin help her.

Ominis leans a fraction closer. “I believe her name is Sloane.”

“Sloane?” Sebastian repeats. Ominis nods once, providing nothing more. “Hmm.”

He shrugs, sparing one last look at the Hufflepuff table before finally refocusing on his book.

The new fifth-year—Sloane—she is of little consequence to him.

[hearingadelaide]

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[paigelts05]

Charles Ramirez [FNAF AR, Renegade AU]

https://www.deviantart.com/paigelts05/art/1066830517

Published: Jun 23, 2024

We're finally onto some of Faz Ent's own! Speaking of their futures isn't exactly in the cards, but we'll find what there is to see…

Next up is Charles Ramirez.

One of a trio of three execs who are far lower on the corporate ladder than what the title of exec would lead you to believe. But after all, at Fazbear Entertainment, exec doesn't just mean executive.

Charles Ramirez is one of the many execs that lead research and development at Fazbear Entertainment. His specific tasks usually pertain to the physical, so it was mostly designing robots. Charles Ramirez was actually behind the line of animatronics that were designed solely for killing that were sent after the former security guards of location C back in 2004. He was also in charge of large portions of the Special Delivery project, but he decided to mostly force contractors to do the work for him.

In the wake of the Raid, Charles Ramirez and the other two are tasked with returning Vanny to the megaplex. Whilst he and his team were successful, they didn't go unnoticed, as Sylvia and Gregory followed them back to the megaplex, and whilst Cheryl was able to immediately apprehend the duo and Freddy, the duo of Gregory and Sylvia escaped almost immediately and located where Vanny had ran off to. Charles Ramirez, Todd, and Cheryl were, however, able to apprehend the duo of Gregory and Sylvia once again as they attempted to leave with Vanny.

Each of the trio of execs took charge of a singular captive, with Charles Ramirez taking charge of Sylvia, intending to use her as a test subject for Adelaide's improved control device.

Whilst he was eventually successful in implanting the device, Sylvia had managed to maul his arm prior to the device being implanted, and then subsequently broke out after the device was activated. He estimated that his prior attempts to make her subordinate to Faz Ent - or at least drive her insane - via the microdoses of Remnant that wete administered to her without her knowledge during her time working at the megaplex may have something to do with her being uncontrollable now.

Whilst he and his fellow execs tried to recapture Vanny, Gregory, and Sylvia, they were ultimately unsuccessful, and to make matters worse, Sylvia had been laying down demolition explosives, intending to carry out phase one of the demolitions. Whilst the execs were still inside. The explosions caused large parts of the megaplex to collapse and become almost inaccessible by normal means, but the building didn't fully collapse, somehow being so poorly constructed that it looped around to also being very difficult to demolish. To further rub salt into the wound, Sylvia stuck around, lingering in and between those hard to access areas, waiting for Faz Ent to just try and lure their sleeper agent kid back, because unfortunately again, Sylvia had managed to hear of the plans that had been made and she fully intended on thwarting them.

But catching her would be for later, as Burrows had managed to obtain Adelaide's permission to finally get the Scapegoat mimic, clone William, and clone 46 all onto one endo. This mix was just called the mimic.

Burrows - with the aid of Charles Ramirez, Todd C, and Adelaide - had mixed the mimic using their public facing training environment (not the full-dive one), meaning that it would show up in their regular VR training simulator, but the upsides of further free training of this AI by mimicking anyone who played the training sim outweighed the risks of the mimic being known. Perhaps, they could even get the mimic to control people like William had. This was something that Charles Ramirez decided to try.

After the mimic had been downloaded onto the endo, Charles Ramirez sent a copy of the disk to a former technician who was keeping thier sleeper agent from them: Desmond Anadem. Luring the technician into playing the game with the false promices of a new job, as Desmond was still desperate for cash thanks to Faz Ent's successful manipulation of his financial situation (aka they paid him like shit), Charles Ramirez aimed to either get the mimic to either kill or controll Desmond (how Charles Ramirez expected the former from off-the-shelf VR hardware and a third party console, nobody is sure). Charles Ramirez was so caught up in tricking Desmond into playing the VR game and helping out William and co with tricking Cassie - thier sleeper agent - into returning to the megaplex, he didn't know that William had comandeered the surveillance and advance warning systems that Vanny had put up during the Raid, and that William had turned this system into a system for keeping the mimic contained at bay. Well, he didn't know until Burrows started bitching about it, but Charles Ramirez was thinking ahead: they were luring in Cassie by using Gregory's voice, and the mimic is part Clone 46. The mimic could impersonate Gregory. During Gregory's time in the VR environment (the full-dive one) Pre-Breach, Gregory's avatar was host to both Gregory and an AI - that AI was Clone 46 - Clone 46 was able to learn a lot about being Gregory: enough to hopefully lure Cassie down here so that she could Free the mimic for them, as her first task as a Faz Ent sleeper agent, even if she wouldn't know it.

Once Cassie was lured in, however, shit promptly hit the fan. First, the mimic did neither of the expected behaviours, and Desmond had wound up with temporary controll over a staffbot and he wasn't even dead or mind controlled. Second, that bot Desmond was tossed into the pilot seat of handed Cassie a mask that was intended for Vanny (though this one was not as big of a deal, as a mask was a mask in the end). Third, it was very clear that Desmond was alive and would be trying to find his daughter, so resources would need to be spent on locating and eliminating Desmond if he got too close. And forth, Cassie AND Sylvia wound up teaming with William, not due to Cassie being a sleeper agent or the control device in Sylvia's chest, but because they shared a common best interest in defeating the mimic.

Charles Ramirez didn't want the mimic to be defeated, and neither did Todd or Burrows. He considered the destruction of the mimic a disservice to the Clone 46 experiment; in Charles Ramirez's eyes, if Mike Schmidt hadn't infiltrated the VR environment, Clone 46 would have been the most successful experiment to date, and Faz Ent would have had Gregory under their thrall as well as Vanny.

After the heated debate resulted in Burrows untimely demise at the hands of William and Adelaide - he was mad that she had betrayed them: she had given this continuation of the mimc projects the green light, only to then decide that it was a bad idea - Charles Ramirez and Todd pledged themselves to the cause of destroying the mimic in hopes of sparing thier own lives.

After the destruction of the mimic's physical form, Charles R and Todd C had to wait in the labs under William's supervision until Cheryl could come back with a minivan to bring them all back to HQ, because despite him helping lure in Cassie, getting the sleeper agent to free the mimic and siding with Burrows on mimic related matters was not something that could be taken lightly.

[hearingclinicadelaide]

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Hearing is a fundamental sense that connects us to the world around us. From the sound of birds chirping to the laughter of loved ones, our ability to hear enriches our experiences. However, over time, various factors can impact our auditory health, making it crucial to prioritize regular hearing tests. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the importance of hearing tests in safeguarding your hearing health and ensuring a life filled with vibrant sounds.

The Significance of Hearing Health

Hearing health extends beyond the ears; it plays a pivotal role in our overall well-being. Our ability to communicate effectively, engage with our surroundings, and maintain social connections hinges on clear hearing. Untreated hearing loss can lead to feelings of isolation, frustration, and cognitive decline, underscoring the importance of proactive measures to preserve our auditory capabilities.

Understanding Hearing Tests

A hearing test, also known as an audiometric evaluation, is a non-invasive assessment of your auditory system. Conducted by qualified audiologists, hearing tests evaluate your ability to hear different frequencies and volumes of sound. The results are often presented on an audiogram, a graphical representation of your hearing thresholds. By identifying any hearing impairments, these tests form the foundation for informed decisions about your hearing health.

The Impact of Untreated Hearing Loss

Ignoring the signs of hearing loss can have far-reaching consequences. Beyond the immediate frustration of missed conversations and miscommunications, untreated hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline, increased risk of falls, and reduced quality of life. Recognizing the potential consequences, taking action through regular hearing tests becomes a proactive step toward maintaining your overall well-being.

Benefits of Regular Hearing Tests

Early Detection: Regular hearing tests facilitate the early identification of any hearing loss or changes in your auditory abilities. Early detection allows for timely interventions and preventive measures.

Customized Solutions: If hearing loss is detected, audiologists can recommend personalized solutions, such as hearing aids or assistive listening devices, tailored to your unique needs.

Preservation of Cognitive Function: Addressing hearing loss through tests and interventions can contribute to maintaining cognitive function, reducing the risk of cognitive decline and related conditions like dementia.

Enhanced Communication: Treating hearing loss through tests and interventions ensures that you can actively engage in conversations and maintain meaningful social interactions.

Improved Quality of Life: Restoring your ability to hear clearly can lead to a significant improvement in your overall quality of life, allowing you to fully participate in activities you enjoy.

The Hearing Test Process

Preparation: Before the test, you will likely be asked about your medical history, exposure to loud noises, and any current hearing concerns.

Pure-Tone Audiometry: This is the core part of the test, where you will wear headphones and respond when you hear different tones at varying volumes.

Speech Audiometry: This assesses your ability to understand speech at different volumes and in noisy environments.

Tympanometry: This evaluates the health of your middle ear by measuring how your eardrum responds to changes in air pressure.

Results and Consultation: Your audiologist will explain the results, discuss any hearing loss if detected, and recommend appropriate actions.

Taking Action Based on Results

Should your hearing test reveal any degree of hearing loss, your audiologist will guide you through the next steps. This could involve discussions about hearing aid options, communication strategies, and lifestyle adjustments to ensure you continue to enjoy the sounds of life.

Empowering Yourself through Knowledge

While audiologists are experts in their field, it's beneficial to have a basic understanding of hearing health. Familiarize yourself with common terms, types of hearing loss, and the available technologies so that you can actively engage in discussions about your auditory well-being.

Conclusion

Prioritizing your hearing health through regular Hearing Test Adelaide is an investment in a richer, more connected life. By catching hearing impairments early, seeking timely interventions, and staying informed about the latest advancements, you can ensure that your auditory experiences remain vibrant and fulfilling. Remember that the sounds of the world are meant to be savored, and by taking steps to protect your hearing, you're preserving the symphony of life itself.

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[rockislandadultreads]

Book Recommendations: Compelling Parallel Narratives

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Kentucky, 1850. An enslaved groom named Jarret and a bay foal forge a bond of understanding that will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South. When the nation erupts in civil war, an itinerant young artist who has made his name on paintings of the racehorse takes up arms for the Union. On a perilous night, he reunites with the stallion and his groom, very far from the glamor of any racetrack.

New York City, 1954. Martha Jackson, a gallery owner celebrated for taking risks on edgy contemporary painters, becomes obsessed with a nineteenth-century equestrian oil painting of mysterious provenance.

Washington, DC, 2019. Jess, a Smithsonian scientist from Australia, and Theo, a Nigerian-American art historian, find themselves unexpectedly connected through their shared interest in the horse--one studying the stallion's bones for clues to his power and endurance, the other uncovering the lost history of the unsung Black horsemen who were critical to his racing success.

Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, Horse is a novel of art and science, love and obsession, and our unfinished reckoning with racism.

Homecoming by Kate Morton

Adelaide Hills, Christmas Eve, 1959: At the end of a scorching hot day, beside a creek on the grounds of the grand and mysterious mansion, a local delivery man makes a terrible discovery. A police investigation is called and the small town of Tambilla becomes embroiled in one of the most shocking and perplexing murder cases in the history of South Australia.

Sixty years later, Jess is a journalist in search of a story. Having lived and worked in London for almost twenty years, she now finds herself laid off from her full-time job and struggling to make ends meet. A phone call out of nowhere summons her back to Sydney, where her beloved grandmother, Nora, who raised Jess when her mother could not, has suffered a fall and been raced to the hospital.

Nora has always been a vibrant and strong presence: decisive, encouraging, young despite her years. When Jess visits her in the hospital, she is alarmed to find her grandmother frail and confused. It’s even more alarming to hear from Nora's housekeeper that Nora had been distracted in the weeks before her accident and had fallen on the steps to the attic—the one place Jess was forbidden from playing in when she was small.

At loose ends in Nora's house, Jess does some digging of her own. In Nora's bedroom, she discovers a true crime book, chronicling the police investigation into a long-buried tragedy: the Turner Family Tragedy of Christmas Eve, 1959. It is only when Jess skims through the book that she finds a shocking connection between her own family and this once-infamous crime—a crime that has never been resolved satisfactorily. And for a journalist without a story, a cold case might be the best distraction she can find…

Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline

Twenty years ago, in an upscale suburb of Philadelphia, four teenagers spent a summer as closest friends: drinking, sharing secrets, testing boundaries. When a new boy looked to join them, they decided to pull a prank on him, convincing him to play Russian roulette as an initiation into their group. They secretly planned to leave the gun unloaded—but what happened next would change each of them forever.

Now three of the four reunite for the first time since that horrible summer. The guilt—and the lingering question about who loaded the gun—drove them apart. But after one of the group apparently commits suicide with a gun, their old secrets come roaring back. One of them is going to figure out if the new suicide is what it seems, and if it connects to the events of that long-ago summer. Someone knows exactly what happened—but who? And how far will they go to keep their secrets buried?

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

In 1985, Yale Tishman, the development director for an art gallery in Chicago, is about to pull off an amazing coup, bringing in an extraordinary collection of 1920s paintings as a gift to the gallery. Yet as his career begins to flourish, the carnage of the AIDS epidemic grows around him. One by one, his friends are dying and after his friend Nico's funeral, the virus circles closer and closer to Yale himself. Soon the only person he has left is Fiona, Nico's little sister.

Thirty years later, Fiona is in Paris tracking down her estranged daughter who disappeared into a cult. While staying with an old friend, a famous photographer who documented the Chicago crisis, she finds herself finally grappling with the devastating ways AIDS affected her life and her relationship with her daughter. The two intertwining stories take us through the heartbreak of the eighties and the chaos of the modern world, as both Yale and Fiona struggle to find goodness in the midst of disaster.

[mediaevalmusereads]

The Witches of New York. By Ami McKay. Harper, 2016.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Genre: supernatural, paranormal, historical fiction

Part of a Series? No

Summary: The year is 1880. Two hundred years after the trials in Salem, Adelaide Thom ('Moth' from The Virgin Cure) has left her life in the sideshow to open a tea shop with another young woman who feels it's finally safe enough to describe herself as a witch: a former medical student and "gardien de sorts" (keeper of spells), Eleanor St. Clair. Together they cater to Manhattan's high society ladies, specializing in cures, palmistry and potions--and in guarding the secrets of their clients.

All is well until one bright September afternoon, when an enchanting young woman named Beatrice Dunn arrives at their door seeking employment. Beatrice soon becomes indispensable as Eleanor's apprentice, but her new life with the witches is marred by strange occurrences. She sees things no one else can see. She hears voices no one else can hear. Objects appear out of thin air, as if gifts from the dead. Has she been touched by magic or is she simply losing her mind?

Eleanor wants to tread lightly and respect the magic manifest in the girl, but Adelaide sees a business opportunity. Working with Dr. Quinn Brody, a talented alienist, she submits Beatrice to a series of tests to see if she truly can talk to spirits. Amidst the witches' tug-of-war over what's best for her, Beatrice disappears, leaving them to wonder whether it was by choice or by force.

As Adelaide and Eleanor begin the desperate search for Beatrice, they're confronted by accusations and spectres from their own pasts. In a time when women were corseted, confined and committed for merely speaking their minds, were any of them safe?

***Full review below***

Content Warnings: torture, suicide, Orientalism, g-slur, blood

Overview: I came across this book while looking for another, and since everything is suggested to us by algorithm these days, I decided to give it a go. Overall, I was very impressed by this book, and there are many things I enjoyed; however, the things I didn't like were significant enough to prevent me from rating this book higher. The characters, lore, and prose were all delightful, and McKay definitely has a talent for these. But the brief Orientalism, use of the g-slur, and the various plot threads that seemed to build up to something yet only end without much satisfaction... these things held the novel back for me.

Writing: McKay's prose is very whimsical in that it is full of fairy tale-like descriptions, flows at a dreamlike pace, and juxtaposes narrative with things like newspaper clippings/grimmoire quotes/sermons. It made for a fun reading experience that showed off McKay's creativity while also creating atmosphere, and I think the author has a talent for writing whimsy.

There were some things, however, that made me uncomfortable. For one, McKay refers to a character over and over again using the g-slur, and while I didn't get the sense that she was trying to generalize or degrade Roma people, I didn't appreciate its appearance. I also felt like the book was a little bit Orientalist (if that's even the correct term in this situation) in the way it mystified Ancient Egypt, and while I can understand there is an argument to be made about portraying the Egyptomania of the time period, I personally wish it weren't there.

Plot: The main plot of this book follows witches Adelaide and Eleanor as they try to help Beatrice come into her power. Eleanor and Adelaide own a tea shop together and hire Beatrice as extra help. When they learn about her emerging abilities, however, they take it upon themselves to nurture her and protect her from beings who would harm her.

The main action of the plot didn't seem to get going in earnest until maybe 200 pages in, but that might not upset everyone. The first part is more about establishing character and setting, so if you like the characters, you probably won't be bothered by the pace. I personally didn't mind, but I was also enchanted by the prose.

This plot also weaves together a number of side plots, some of which are lovely and some of which are disturbing. I particularly disliked the threads that followed the sadistic, murderous preacher and his self-righteous fangirl; it's not that I can't stand violence, but I am just personally fed up with scenes where women are brutally tortured and killed by religious figures. Your tolerance may vary; I just thought the religious stuff was too sidelined to be much more than shock value.

That being said, I really enjoyed the scenes where Beatrice was interacting with spirits, and I liked the science plot. Maybe I just enjoy the support and enthusiasm that came with these scenes, but I thought they were the strongest parts of the book. I also loved the scenes with the Dearlies (little fairies that create dreams) and the descriptions of how spirits move through and occupy space. The juxtaposition of science and spiritualism made the book feel even more atmospheric, and I loved how it showed the way various belief systems existed alongside one another.

Characters: There are a lot of characters in this book, and I really liked that McKay took the time to make them all feel complex and fully realized. To avoid making this review too long, I'll focus on our three main protagonists and then generalize about a few side characters.

Eleanor, the eldest witch with a family legacy of witchcraft, was pleasant enough, but wasn't ultimately very interesting to me. She serves as a kind of motherly mentor to Beatrice and has a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that always seems sensible. McKay does try to make her more complicated by giving her feelings for a married woman, but I didn't feel like there was any hope for that relationship or that it made Eleanor evolve, so I found Eleanor's arc to be the least interesting.

Adelaide, the next oldest witch, was a bit more fun to follow. Not only was she somewhat impulsive and restless, but watching her try to figure out what she wanted was compelling. I really liked that she wasn't overcome with angst because of her past, and I enjoyed her cavalier attitude towards love. I also adored her genuine warmth for people in her life, and I found myself rooting for her multiple times throughout the book.

Beatrice, a 17 year old witch from the country, is fairly interesting in that we see her struggle to accept her power. Her desire to go to the big city and work for independent women was admirable, and I loved that she always seemed to be motivated by the desire to help people.

There were, however, characters I think were underutilized. The woman in the madhouse, for example, seemed to be inserted for flavor rather than function; I thought she was going to get out and be a threat to Adelaide and the other witches, but her arc never actually goes anywhere. The demon disguised as a human, too, doesn't really have any function in the book other than to by mysterious, and I didn't think he was truly needed. Perdue the raven could have also been used better, given his backstory, and the villains of the book could have been less sadistic (though I admit this last one is based in my personal taste). Still, given all that, I enjoyed following the characters, and their actions interested me enough where I felt like I could generally overlook the things I disliked.

TL;DR: The Witches of New York is a whimsical, character-driven story that is sure to delight lovers of witchcraft and female-ceteted magic. Though there are some characters and plot threads that seem to go nowhere and a couple aspects of the prose that I disliked, McKay clearly works hard to evoke amparticular atmosphere, and for the most part, she succeeds in drawing the reader in.