#jinger’s works

[jingerhead]

Returning from the void to post about a prompt written for the SVSSS Gotcha for Gaza!! Written for @nyoomerr thank you so much for your donation! 🫶

🥒 OG LBH / Shen Yuan

🥒 fluff, hurt/comfort | 5.5k words

🥒 SY learning to cope with being bingge's emotional support chew toy

Link

[peepawleoplaysdnd]

*Gives kazoo* this is a kazoo.

….Huh.

[scoonsalicious]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Love Pocket and Bucky. Hate the ghost of Jinger.

I hope she doesn’t hold it against Sam

Nah, she knows it’s not Sam’s fault. It’s not even Bucky’s fault. She’s got some bad PTSD that I didn’t realize she needed to work through lol

[countingandsnarkingon]

I have a confession…..I have no idea how Free Jinger works

[jingerpi]

hii jinger just checking in. im reallly glad youve been getting a lot of recognition for your work, i remember when you had a much smaller following. you’re writing is really well done, keep it up!

Aw thank you! thats very sweet. Its nice to see you're still around ^^

[bloogers-boogers]

Kyle Brofloski/Eric Cartman (SP one-shot)

/Insanely obsessed/

Summary: Post covid special but Stan couldn't fix the timeline and Kyle is deranged.

Slight Warning ⚠️ has sensitive topics I do not reccomend reading if you're aren't able to handle that sorta thing!(blood, injuries,violence, games, cheating, probably stockholm syndrome,etc.)(no, theres no r*pe! Just 'typical' comedic kidnapping like with Scott Tenorman or the hand slaughter murderer, ginger cult or the the big foot hunters) Please spare yourself the uncomfortable read.

Author's note: First time writing this type of stuff involving fucked up scenarios but I tried. Pls tell me if it's deranged enough hehe if you're wondering where this came from is from a previous post I written here

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Humming was all the redhead man did while sharpening his trustful knife, looking his way to the dark corner of the room he's in.

A smile crept his face, looking fondly at the weapon, "you know? I used to be kinda fascinated by knives when I was a kid.. sharp things to be in fact," he blurted out loud casually, turning his way facing a tied up man who muffled lightly in protest to be let go, growing tirelessly aswell by his previous fail attempts.

His brunette now greasy and tangled hair covering most of his face. His body all tied up in chains around a wooded plank unable to move just his head and feet.

"Do you remember the metrosexual trend? Haha! I remember having team up with Mr Garrison, having ofcourse my beloved knife with me," he beamed holding on to the knife with excitement and a hint of nostalgia, looking at the man who looked straight at the ground not bothering to pay him mind, "are you hungry? Is that it, fatso?" He mustered a little bitter by the lack of attention he's receiving.

"I'll be right back," he commented not expecting a reply back, heading upstairs.

He had dragged that fatass to a cabin inside the woods it was a one ground floor but it had a basement that worked as a food compartment, it was pretty average size, but it was perfect nonetheless. There was only a small window in it but he covered it with a blind just at night, he wasn't that cruel.

Coming back with some chips in hand, jumping each stairs with delight, "I swear~ by the moon and the stars in the sky~" he sang placing the chips in a chair as he crotch infront of the man getting to his level.

The brunette man being none other then Eric Cartman: former archrival. Now married man, respectful rabbi and father of three children.

Cartman glared at him with reddened puffy eyes and some dark huge circles under them.

"Got some chessy poofs for you, fatass. They're your favorite aren't they? I believe I remember they were," he said, acting as he was trying to recall the fact. But was deeply aware of everything Cartman liked and disliked.

He tried feeding him some, like a tourist trying to feed peanuts to an elephant. But removed his hand quickly as Cartman had tried to bite him the moment he untied the rag off his mouth.

"Uh-uh uh, bad Cartman bad!" He smacked his head receiving a hiss in pain from his part.

Cartman still remained silent as he glaringly watch every move he did, he was enjoying the attention he was now giving him.

To summarize it all leading to this moment, it was after being revealed to him their future could've turn out different, having reuniting with old friends, having to attend one of his best friends funeral and then realizing his arch rival, the most piece of shit person he's ever met was living a happy married life while he lived miserable and lonely.

It was fucking unfair.

He slapped Cartman's cheeks with each single thought his way, making them swollen and bruised, standing up as he grabbed a bowl and shove all the cheesy poofs inside.

"You'll get hungry eventually," stating that, he place the bowl below Cartman's reach, still mouth unfolded. Still not spitting a single word his way.

"¡Why Kahal! You dumb jinger jersey jew! How could you! You forgot to add me some kfc chicken on the side," he mimicked Cartman's childish whiney voice, "but I shouldn't be surprised, a person with the three 'j''s' have ever done anything right in there lives."

"Shut up, Cartman! I can't drive back town whenever your fatass feels like it!"

"But kahaaaal! I want some kfc!"

He glance at Cartman but he showed no real intention on snapping back, he 'tsk' pacing back and forth throwing his knife straight to the board he had previously place in the wall hitting a photo of Cartman and his family in a fit of rage. Losing all his patience.

It hit directly at the fatass face already covered by previous holes.

He smirked having cause the real man in question flinch by the noise. Grabbing his knife once more and approaching him, crouching back to his level and holding the knife against his neck.

"Say something, asshole." He warned coldly, "I didn't go all the way to New York for you, just so your ass to ignore me like I'm some crazy lunatic."

"I– I want to go home..I won't tell a soul I promise.." he pleaded almost in a whisper, but that made him dig his knife even further against his skin making him gulp by the sharp knife against his adams apple, "o-oh, Kyle.. uh– I.. think, I am just a little hungry. That's all," Finally admitting out loud as sweat fell like rivers down his face, chuckling nervously.

He smiled, grabbing the bowl next to him, hand feeding the cheesy poofs like feeding some stray animal.

Caressing with his now cheesy thumb against Cartman's bruised cheek smearing the cheese all over him as he trembled under his touch, "atta boy, that's more like it."

Sometimes he forgot how much Cartman's voice had changed since children, it wasn't unpleasant but he rarely got to hear it nowadays only remembering briefly the times we're it was mostly noticeable for the hint of sarcasm and false innocence.

Now..

It was more mature and it was calmer, he liked it.

He already had in mind how to put in good use of that voice of his.

Once Cartman finished the entire bowl, he stood up walking to a near desk, placing all the chip bags to the side and grabbing his chair.

Seating down, he opened a drawer and grabbed a polaroid camera, sliding his rolling chair with fun next to Cartman and grinning widely as he snapped a picture of the two.

Now shaking the picture frantically for the color to appear and the two silhouettes fill the blank polaroid.

"Look at us, we look good. Well, atleast I do," he stated, eying the brunette as he rested his left elbow on his shoulder and gripping his cheeks with his free hand forcibly making him look at the picture.

He nodded fanatically as he was reviewing it internally, agreeing to everything he said.

The night had finally arise, and he stood up from his desk having worked piles of school paperwork, ofcourse he had to keep up with work now having to maintain two.

He stretched his arms going upstairs and grabbing a bucket, sponge and soap.

"Bath time, fatass!" He exclaimed, almost running back downstairs, jumping the last stair. Placing the bucket infront of the chubby man as he grabbed the hose that was slid from the outside of the window through inside.

Filling up the bucket with water, now setting a small bucket at the side and filling it up with water, adding soap while soaking the sponge in.

He carefully slid Cartman's plain white button shirt off, brushing his skin lightly with his fingertips.

Grabbing the sponge squeezing some of the soaked water off rubbing it against his chest, tapping and smudging it all over, trying to rub all the dirt and sweat off. Then his back, armpits, his sides, waist and lastly legs, crotch and ass. He wasn't too comfortable washing Cartman's ass at first but after the first couple of weeks together, he just saw his body in the ways a nurse would see their patient while bathing them.

Though, he must admit. With time, he's visualize Cartman's body as something very beautiful. It was kinda in like a artistic viewing way.

Admiring it; every curve and softness while he scrubbed every inch of his body, it'd be a pity if he were to lose weight and lose that scrumptious figure of his.

He sighed tirelessly resting his head against Cartman's bare back hearing his beating heart and light panting.

He fixed Cartman up, clothes right back on as he grabbed his bag.

It was time to go back home.

"I'll come back tomorrow," he waved goodbye as he left the cabin heading back to South Park.

Tapping his fingers against the wheel as a song resonated in the radio.

His phone rang, placing it in the cup holder as he answered.

"What up?" He spoke.

"Kyle, did you hear what happened?" Stan asked almost dreadful. He kinda guessed what could it possibly be about.

"What happened?" He fake a shock tone, lowering the volume of his radio.

"It's, Cartman, dude. He's gone missing. His wife contact me today asking if I knew anything about his whereabouts, his family is very worried right now."

"No way dude, since when?"

"She says it's almost been a month already, like.. what could've happened to Cartman?"

"Maybe he just bailed off? You know how much of an asshole he is, Stan. Wouldn't be surprised if he ran off to make a new careless free life."

"Kyle, I think this is serious. I don't think Cartman is that much an asshole, he's seemed change when we last saw him."

"Not my problem, Stan," he admitted, humming lightly as he turned a street.

"Kyle, I know you don't believe in Cartman changing. But he was still our friend–"

"No, Stan. We weren't friends, he made my life miserable when we were kids. Mocking and taunting me all the damn time."

"C'mon, man. Don't take offense to this, but you use to share your fair share yourself, you mocked Cartman because he was fat as fuck, and you still do even if Cartman has shown to you he's grown."

"Cartman was fucking with me, he did that on purpose to get rise outta me."

"You can't act like there weren't times you and Cartman shared actual good moments together."

"No, not even one good memory I can pin point, Stan."

"Oh god, Jesus christ Kyle. What about the time– uh.. well there was this once– Kyle you can be so damn difficult sometimes!"

It didn't surprise him how Stan found complicated to recall any good moments between him and Cartman gone through. Stan can be quite oblivious to most things, lacking attention, even though, it makes sense he wouldn't grasp anything about them when they kept their personal and intimate moments very hidden in the back of their mind far from others to reach.

"Stan it's not my fault that you're now finding some sense of purpose by trying to look for our missing 'friend' just cause your life is miserable and hallow."

"Your life will be forever empty and hallow without Cartman around!"

"What's that supposed to mean!? He literally lives in New York," he slammed the wheel, finally parking in his driveway, "and I'm perfectly fine without him, living here in South park."

There was a long pause before Stan spoke again.

"Kenny would've tried looking for him.." he mustered as ruffling noise were heard through the line.

He sighed, defeated. Low blow to use Kenny against him.

"Fine, but I'll search through the web I can't just be leaving work when I please y'know."

"Fine. I'll be heading to New York in a couple of days and gather up more clues, I'll text you when I find something."

And with that he hanged up, he rolled his eyes as he entered his dark almost unoccupied place.

Doing his nocturnal routine before going to bed. Stan's words had hit him hard, empty and hallow..

He looked at his ceiling thinking about Cartman, and what could he possibly bring him for lunch tomorrow. He wonder if he was trying to attempt on getting out this very instance while he was away, which is most likely but he was sure of the security he's put and being very certainly it'll be 'Cartman proof'.

<<<< —————>>>>

"Hey, fatass. Missed me?" He greeted placing a bag in his desk, now approaching the man who had seemingly pissed himself.

"Guess, I'll be very busy than usual these days. Apparently Stan found it being a great idea to go look for you," he explained circling around his chair, finally stopping and resting his hands on it, eyes narrowing Cartman's.

As his eyes lit up somewhat hopeful.

"Before you get your panties in a twist he won't be looking for you here. He's going to New York," he smugly stated as he savored Cartman's saddened expression; losing hope once more.

"Anyways, why not we play a game today?" He asked, bringing out a small roulette with already written games on.

Cartman denied frantically as he squinted his eyes almost screaming but the noise reduced into a loud muffle because of the rag in his mouth.

"And a one and a two–" he began, now turning viciously the roulette letting go as he waited for the lucky choice.

"Ding ding ding!" He exclaimed clapping his hands not too enthusiastic, as the roulette had stopped in number 7.

"Guess marbles eating it is!" He grabbed under his desk a box, looking through his shit until he found the marbles.

He kneel down, as he puckered Cartman's mouth gripping it hard with a free hand, now taking off the rag.

"N-ngh!" He winced out trying to avoid being force to eat a small tiny marble.

"Eat it, or I'll shove you the big one!" He warned with a narrow, making Cartman reluctantly obey; swallowing a red marble out from his hand, his lips brushing against it.

He shoved a couple of more in his mouth finally feeling pleased once Cartman swallow them all at whole.

"Good boy," he said, now bringing the bag he had brought with him.

Sitting infront of him as he crossed his legs, taking out some kfc chicken, potatoes, gravey and biscuits.

He munched on a chicken leg not taking off his gaze from Cartman's glaring stare. He winked at him teasingly as he continued to eat infront of him not sparing a piece at the fatass.

His eyes glued at the chicken and his mouth was basically dripping drool, the sound of his growling stomach echoed the walls.

He smirked while looking at the pathetic display, gesturing his half eaten chicken at him, Cartman hesitated for a bit his facials soften in worry before reluctantly leaning forward and eating the most smallest piece from it.

He move it away and continued eating a few bites before placing it again infront of Cartman, gesturing once more for he to take a bite.

Cartman then ate another piece this time it was quite bigger than the first bite, but their was still some chicken left as he was attempting to not leave it in a fully naked bone probably worried if he'd do wrong if he did exactly that.

That fact that Cartman was being more mindful of what he'd think/want instead of himself spread him with pride.

A immense satisfaction his way by Cartman's submission and obedience.

He gently caressed Cartman's fiery hair, making him flinch by the sudden gesture. He placed what was left from the chicken leg for he to finish it.

He almost gobbled it down with rush, he hold in a snicker as he distracted himself playing with Cartman's hair, and grabbed another chicken leg feeding it to him while still curling his hair with his fingers and tugging it slightly before twirling it around, looping some strands.

It was so soft.

The day cease once more to its end, the difference now is that tomorrow would be his day off, so he figured why not stay the night?

He brought in a sleeping bag and some books, Cartman arched a brow confused as he layyed down next to him, sliding the book underneath him and opening the first chapter, signaling with his index finger what he wanted him to do.

He heard Cartman gulped hard as he cleared his throat poorly.

He hasn't heard Cartman speak at all since yesterday which was just him pleading to be let go. And it was actually driving him crazy.

So this would make a nice change in their new dynamic.

He tucked himself as he waited for Cartman to read him the book.

"Chapter one.." he spoke very so softly, he could've sworn he was whispering if it weren't for the small cracks and brief pauses in his voice feeling exhausted himself, "The city of beef wellington a cold place where people lived in a starving crisis as broadcasting news reported Gordon Ramsey had stolen and used most of the supposedly endless food supplies for a cooking standoff‐"

He closed his eyes as Cartman's voice soothe him like a lullaby.

<<<< —————>>>>

After a calming night, he tirelessly opened his eyes stretching his arms out from the sleeping bag, turning to his left looking at a sleeping Cartman. Drool fell from his mouth as his eyes were shut tight showing off those big eyelashes of his. The book still underneath while being open and left off on the page Cartman had last narrate for.

He tilted his head looking at Cartman's messy hair, it seemed curled..

He figure it could be because of how tangled it's been left for, so he went upstairs and grabbed a hairbrush, once back startling the man awake as he began brushing his hair unnoticed.

It wasn't as tangled as he expected it to be, and the more he untangle it the more wavy looking it looked.

"What's with your hair, fatass?" Sliding his fingers in his hair, feeling it's softness and curling texture.

Cartman moved his head lightly, tired eyes looked down as he was still drowsy.

"My hair..? What you mean..?" he mustered quietly almost with effort.

He brushed harshly trying to straighten it back but it still remained wavy, making Cartman flinched in pain by the careless brushing.

"It doesn't go to it's normal texture, what gives?"

"Ah.. I suppose it was inevitable.."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I actually have natural curly hair.. like you Kyle."

His eyebrows raised in surprise, now leaving the brush on the floor, "what?" He asked incredulous.

"I just straightened and gel it down all the time when we were kids.. for me.. it was embarrassing, and my mom use to not like it that way either so since preschool she'd straightened it down all the time.. my hair kinda just got use to it by now so it's kinda waved down quite a notch.. and now with out caring for it, it's probably just getting back to it's nature curls I suppose.."

He looked at him attentively, contemplating the new revelation he's been told.

No fucking way.

"You use to always taunt me for my curly hair!"

"And I'm sorry.."

"Don't fucking apologize!" He punched him in the stomach out of pure rage, causing a 'hmph!' from Cartman, feeling the cold metallic chains against his skin. Leaving a red stingy mark in his knuckles as he stood up.

He stormed off outside, taking out a pack of cigarettes from his car, slamming the door shut now leaning his back against it. Lightening up a cigarette before inhaling the nicotine substance, glaringly looking at the trees surrounding the cabin.

Contemplating murder, feeling betrayed and lied to all his damn life. Over some damn stupid hair.

Stepping on his cigarette, he opened his truck taking out a bat and slamming it right back shut. Heading inside and going downstairs looking at a now trembling brunette, who looked at him scared.

As he should, cause what he's about to do won't be the slightest pretty.

He slammed the wooden bat in his stomach, each hit with more forceful rage. Causing Cartman to whined in pain and whimper screaming apologetic pleads, blood coming out from his mouth, tear falling down his glossy eyes wanting for it to stop.

But he didn't bare listen or care, grabbing his so curly hair with a hank making Cartman yelp. He grabbed his knife from his pocket slicing some of his hair off before letting go and heading to his drawer. Still not finish as he hold on to some scissors.

"Snip snip," he mustered loud enough for the man to hear, menacingly opening and closing his scissors now walking and standing infront of Cartman.

With his index finger he raised Cartman's chin making him look at him with those teary puffy eyes.

He placed their forehead together feeling their heated panting mix together and breathing regulate.

He back away now snipping some of his hair off as it all fell to the floor he grabbed a small batch and place it in his drawer for forward sticking it in his journal. But for now his focus was still maintain on his rival.

His beautiful half long hair chopped off and spread carelessly on the floor, and the man in question whimpered quietly sniffing lightly as snot slid down to his mouth.

Humming as he took a small razor out from his bag, he'd normally use it for shaving some of the edges of his beard but he figured this wouldn't be entirely different.

After minutes of shaving every corner of Cartman's head, he finished gracefully. Leaving a shiny scalp on him.

He yawned as the day was starting to end.

Settling his stuff aside as he swept those loose strands of hair away, cleaning it all up while Cartman had doze off through that period. He kicked him, causing him to snap back up with a small 'owe..'

He didn't bother on feeding him as some sorta punishment for lying. Liars can't be forgiven so lightly, so he thought.

He left back home, pretty early than usual, he was even waved a hello from a neighbor he rarely even interacted with.

He layyed back on his empty bed, and reassured his guilty conscience his reasons were all justified and he'll make it up by tomorrow bringing something Cartman would love; maybe a chocolate cake or some two patty burgers.

Once back, he was in a more cheerful mood, after dropping off at some new opening burger joint he knew Cartman would like, he had bought some burgers and fries, with and additional soda beverages. He also didn't forget dessert buying one of those cheese cakes with chocolate on top decorated with two strawberries.

He walked down stairs, noticing he had forgotten to close the curtain the previous night as the sunlight hit the window straight to Cartman's face as he winced a eye shut by the beaming light, it all left an ethereal look.

Cartman's now fully grown hair as if an episode had previously set into credits creating a new set of events to occur, was already the first thing that stood out to him, his curls bounce to the side as he moved his head in a tired manner. It shined beautifully with the light hitting against it. The chocolaty brown made his hair look so heavenly he felt quite envious but also quite merciful for being able to witness it at it's full glory.

"Wow," he mustered out, carefully placing his bags on the floor.

He stood next to Cartman, crouching down to his level ruffling playfully those curly brown locks of his.

"I doubt we would've made fun of you for this, fatass," he gestured lightly with a tugging on his hair.

Cartman said nothing dismissively avoiding his eyes. It was obvious he was pissed at him for the previous night.

He sighed defeated, "I know, I know. But your hair is back so get over it will yah?" He stated before reaching his arm out to one of his bags and dragged it towards him, "I got you something that'll cheer you up."

Taking out a burger and unwrapping it, gesturing him to take a bite but he refused in a stubbornly manner.

[fundiepredictions]

Reviewing my 2023 predictions

Bold means that it came true. crossed out means I was wrong. Overal I wasn't right with many predictions. I hope my 2024 predictions will be better

Duggar

Anna - We will only see her in the video's of Joy/Jed

Jana - Pulls a Sarah Maxwell and suddenly get's married

John&Abbie - keep a low profil, we will see them in the video's

Jill&Derick - keeps us up to date, the older boys will go to school in september

Jessa&Ben - announce #5, another girl

Jinger&Jeremy - announce #3, another girl

Joseph&Kendra - their 5th will be born, a girl, we will be working crazy to find the proof

Josiah&Lauren - will be seen in the video's, Lauren will have a big belly

Joy&Austin - Joy will stop with the video's for a while after the baby's been born, until she visits Carlin again

Jedidiah&Katey - Will keep giving us something to discus with their video's, they will have a girl

Jeremiah&Hannah - will announce #2

Jason - announces courtship, engagement and get's married

James - announces courtship

Justin&Claire - announce #1, a boy

Jackson - starts his own IG

Johannah - announces courtship and her own IG

Bates

Zach&Whitney - announce #5, a girl

Michaella&Brandon - They will move and have a dog

Erin&Chad - Will do surprisingly well in Florida

Lawson&Tiffany - announce #1, a boy

Nathan&Esther - announce #2, a girl

Alyssa&John - John will go into politics after they have #5

Tori&Bobby - announce #5, a boy

Trace&Lydia - announce #1, a boy

Carlin&Evan - They will finaly find answers to Carlin's health issue's, Evan goes professional with his editingskills

Josie&Kelton - announce #3, another girl

Katie&Travis - they will drive us crazy with adds for baby products once Hailey is born

Jackson - We will suspect his relationship is over, he never confirms it

Warden - travels all over the place

Isaiah - stays quiet

Wissmann

Rachel&Alan - announce birth of #4

Ruth&Ryan - goes back to her usual content after a month (no cute baby girl pics anymore)

Josiah&Abi - announce #5

Bethany&Dan - announce #6

Andrew&Kori - announce #3

Elizabeth - get's married in a bliss

Matthias&Michelle - announce birth #3

Stephen - get's engaged and married

Hannah&Jeremiah - will announce #2

Susanna - stays off the radar

Alathia - goes big with her cooking IG

Nathanael&Katrina - announce #1

Maxwell

Nathan&Melanie - they will move away from Steve too

Chris&AnnaMarie - Anna starts her own writing blog

Sarah&Kory - announce birth #1, a boy

Joseph&Elissa - announce birth #4, a boy

John&Chelsy - announce #4, a girl

Anna - finds a boyfriend herself

Jesse&AnnaPatrice - announce #1, a girl

Mary&Samuel - get married and announce #1

Keller

Esther&John - ship their two eldest to her/his parents to get married off

Priscilla&David - announce #7, another girl

Anna - We will only see her in the video's of Joy/Jed

Nathan&Nurie - announce #3, a girl

David&Hannah - stay quiet

Bontrager

Marlin&Becky - family band will stop after marriage of Lincoln and Elizabeth

Chelsy&John - announce #4, a girl

Mitchell&Bryn - announce #4, a boy

Allison&Jeremiah - nothing really happens

Lincoln - announces engagement, get's married, spouse will be sibling of spouse Elizabeth

Elizabeth - announces engagement, get's married, spouse will be sibling of spouse Lincoln

Rodrigues

Jill&David - Jill will be very openly against Timothy's marriage, goes on menhunt for Renee

Nurie&Nathan - announce #3, a girl

Timothy - marry's his rumored girlfriend

Kaylee&Jonathan - have a girl, goes Winnie the Pooh style every day

Renee - finds a husband Jill didn't find but does adore

Phillip - distances himself from his parents, Jill won't notice

Samuel - Way more weird video's of him to come

Others

Rogers - announce #13

Ballinger - Nothing happens

Young - announce #5, a boy

Etbauer - announce #3, a girl

[spurgie-cousin]

today on fundie instagram:

Duggars go camping. Why fundies are so obsessed with camping when it's fucking cold I'll never understand.

Newbie Keller turns 1. I unironically love how Nurie gels and combs his 5 singular hairs.

The Rodrigues family has Special Family Time by taking over a hotel gym. Jill of course has to make it weird (have you noticed she only ever praises the boys when they work out? Even though it's has to be a million times harder for her daughters in those jean skirts?)

Jinger's continues her tradition of choosing clothes that make me go hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[merelygifted]

Searching for Sugar Man singer Rodriguez dies at 81 | Searching for Sugar Man | The Guardian

Rodriguez, the singer-songwriter whose unlikely career was the subject of Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugar Man, has died at 81.

The news was announced on his official site with his cause of death unknown. “It is with great sadness that we at Sugarman.org announce that Sixto Diaz Rodriguez has passed away earlier today,” the official statement read. “We extend our most heartfelt condolences to his daughters – Sandra, Eva and Regan – and to all his family. Rodriguez was 81 years old. May His Dear Soul Rest In Peace.”

The Michigan-born musician had struggled to sell many copies of his first two albums in the US in the 1970s and so quit to take on manual work. But his music gained popularity elsewhere in places such as Botswana, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

His cult popularity in Australia led to a 1979 tour of the continent while in South Africa, a compilation album went platinum as a rumour started that he had killed himself.

It wasn’t until 1997 that he discovered his fame in South Africa after his daughter found information online. He then went on tour in the country. Further fame followed when his song Sugar Man was covered by Paolo Nutini and South African band Just Jinger. The original song was also sampled by Nas.

His life became the subject of the 2012 documentary Searching for Sugar Man, which premiered at the Sundance film festival to acclaim. It won the Oscar for best documentary in the following year.

Directed by Swedish film-maker Malik Bendjelloul, it charts his life and the search for him. After its success, Rodriguez’s albums entered the US charts for the first time.

“It’s been a great odyssey,” Rodriguez said in a 2008 interview with the Detroit News. “All those years, you know, I always considered myself a musician. But, reality happened.”

[alexcandm-finally]

Quick establishment of set up

So! How talking out of character and as our original characters will work.

As previously established, this is rp of our various ocs and rottmnt characters PLAYING dnd. So! For example, speaking in the dnd character will require no brackets. Speaking in the rise character's voice, or talking about your rolls and actions such, will be said [in brackets like these.] speaking entirely out of character //will be said like this, with the two slashes.

For example:

[Leo rolls a seven for his stealth. "God-Fucking damnit."]

Oh. Oh no. [Jinger sighs as he is caught by the guards.]

If that makes any sense whatsoever.

[thefundiemuseum]

I've been busy with work and trying to potty-train my toddler so I've missed out on a lot fundie goings on lately.

Here's what I know.

Jinger's book is out and gaining a lot of press.

Jed, Katey, James, and Jana are in Italy for some reason?

Tiffany and Lawson might also be in Italy, I'm not sure.

Jrod is teasing some big announcement. I think it's Timonthy courting.

We still don't know about the Mystery Baby in the Duggar fam, right? Grandbaby #29, presumably? (My money is on Claire.)

And Whitney Bates is pregnant with #5. I'm curious how long before Tori overtakes everyone with The Most GrandBateses.

[jingerhead]

WIP Wednesday ask me about my howls moving castle au🧍‍♀️

[peachyteabuck]

Hi peachy, I see that you are listening to audio books, is that your new year's goal this year? How many have you listened to so far? Are you finding it easier than reading books?

I'm actually doing that as well, in terms of I've got books I have no time to read so thought what better way than this, and because most of them are signed due to having had a subscription I'll sell them as I finish them:) my goal at least is 12 so one a month I'm on book 4 right now.

my goal this year is 100 again!

I'm just also now listening to audio books. @lovelycarose helped me figure out I did not need to go in person to get a library card from my local library to get access to Libby! That's what I've been using.

I'm not sure they're "easier" to read than print books honestly. Esp with my ADHD I've gotten EXTREMELY good at drowning out noise, so I can't listen to audio books at any point. In my brain it's like: laundry, walking, putting away dishes, sewing, animal crossing = audio book tasks. Homework, writing, work = music task. I'm also a much faster reader than most audio book narrators (which makes sense), so it can often take me longer to finish an audio book than a print book in terms of start to finish date. I've also got a lot more of what I call "up" time now than I did last semester--meaning I'm actively working and engaging a lot more than before which means I can't listen to things as much. I also, for some reason, keep choosing long ass audio books. The last two books I listened to were 15 and 18 hours, and the one I'm about to start is 25

I've listening to 7 so far! Some I've liked better than others. It's a whole lot cheaper than buying books, especially for books I want to listen to not because I like the author but because I want the hot gossip/to complain properly (Jinger Duggars book comes to mind)

12 books a month is 144 books !! Dear god!! Good luck. I got by last year by the skin of my teeth so I kept the goal the same. Especially with facing full time student teaching soon I'm like....mmmm....maybe we should plan for success 😂

Good luck!!

[cymorilcinnamonroll]

Danny and Jules Take on the World (Gen Alpha Skidibi Toilet Emo Nephilim Kid and the Fairy Princess WIP)

NaNoWriMo Day 0: Preptober

It was a sticky July morning in Centreville, Virginia. Jeihon was sleeping over with me, and I thought to myself: Julie, today’s the day. The day you tell her, your best friend in the whole world: the truth.

Jeihon was smacking on some gum and doing some bubble braids from a YouTube tutorial. “How do you like it, Jules?” she asked me, her sunshine, singsong voice like the birds outside Rocky Run Elementary School.

I looked over at the screen, nerves totally aflame in my stomach. The cute college girl who was doing the bubble braids to match her Taylor Swift tour outfit was tres cool. “I think you should tighten the ends, otherwise, perf.” I helped her, her thick black hair so nice. I had long, curly red hair that nana says was my “Irish pride, kissed by the fairies, you are. My Irish rose.”

But kids at school called me Jules the Jinger, and I thought it was a radical pain.

“Why do you look sick, Jules?” Jeihon asked me, slipping a candy bracelet with ‘CORNELIA STREET’ on it we just made in bubble blue and gum pink onto my wrist.

“I got my period, Jie.”

“NO WAY! Like that panda girl in Turning Red. Oh my god, you must have freaked. You’re like, the first girl in our grade to get it.”

“No way, Jeihon. I’m twelve. Lizzie and Shameka got theirs at like, ten.”

“Yeah, huh. Wow, you’re a woman. There’s probably a Sabrina Carpenter song about this. Maybe Espresso. I think that’s a woman’s song. God, I’m still eleven Jules. Okay, we have to celebrate.”

“How?”

“BOBA!”

In a few minutes, we had walked to the boba shop downtown. There were some college kids with Tamagotchis, some people playing Pokemon Go V3. I was trying to catch a Charmander.

There was this weird kid. He looked like an emo. He bumped into me, his Vans flashing with strung-up red lights on the black-and-white diamonds.

“Hey!” I said.

“Ew, a girl.”

“Shut up!”

“Sorry. I’m Dan. Daniel. What a grandpa name, right. Hey, can I buy you a boba. Dad wants me to buy you one to apologize.”

Jeihon was playing the claw machine in the corner. I eyed Dan – Daniel – and grew suspicious.

A man in a tailored fancy-looking white shirt and blond hair in some really nice haircut was reading something called The New Yorker in the corner, glasses on. He had a really pretty woman next to him who looked Lebanese like my friend Noor, or maybe Syrian. She was curvy like the Beltway, all in the right places. The man was frowning at Dan. She was smiling dotingly.

“Oh… you can read your dad’s mind. Okay, fine, I want taro and nata jelly,” I said.

The handsome old man – well, maybe he was like, thirties, but c’mon, that’s as old as Jesus – nodded in approval to Dan.

“Okay. Dad says I have bad manners. I’m trying to work on it. I’m begging him to take me to see Ronnie Radke tour with Slash and Rob Zombie.”

Daniel – Dan? – bought me the boba. He got himself a tiger sugar. Jeihon saw Lizzie and Shameka and they were playing string games like cat’s cradle and folding some paper cranes from Lizzie’s ever-present art kits.

“Ronnie whosawhat? Slash-uh?”

“Oh god, heck, you don’t know? Do you live under a rock? Only the best rock guitarist with the best metal vocalist and BEST horror film director-slash-singer. They’re playing at Jiffy Lube Live. It’s called the ‘Mother Monster Creeper’ tour.”

“I like fishing songs. Like, um, the Wellermen. I’m Irish. And Chappell Roan, Steeleye Span, the Indigo Girls, and Taylor Swift.”

Daniel scrunched up his nose. “That sounds interesting. My family is from, um, somewhere warm.”

It was then I noticed his bracelet. It had weird squiggly lines, an X and O and S’s, serpent thingies, and swirls. “Oh cool, what is that thing? A band thing? I have this one.” I showed him the ‘CORNELIA STREET’ candy.

Daniel blushed, his black hair like his mom and blue eyes like his dad scrunched in embarrassment. “Mom, um, makes me wear this. It’s a, uhhhh what is it called. Family hair a loom.”

“What’s a hair-a-loom.”

“Uh. Heirloom.”

“Are you an heir like the British royalty kids.”

“Yeah!!! Sort of. I don’t know. I can’t even figure out which boba I like.”

We sat and pulled out our Pokémon Go V3s. They were these new AI handheld immersive Pokémon games. Daniel had a Squirtle with sunglasses and a soda as his main partner, and I had Cosplay Pikachu with her mega-cute heart-shaped tail and dress.

“Nana says I’m the hair of the loom of a fairy lord. Her great-great grandpa.”

“I hate fairies. They make me sneeze.”

It was my turn to scrunch my nose. This guy was weird. “Right, as if fairies are real. That’s like when nana drinks too much Guinness and says I have the Second Sight.”

Daniel looked over at his dad, who was drinking an espresso. They had these bitter coffee drinks for my political aide dad, but mama always got sweet strawberry milk tea. And mugwort pastries – ew.

I only liked red bean…

Suddenly, I felt sick, like I was gonna hurl. Was this a cramp? But no, Daniel’s eyes were glowing RED? I freaked, swallowed hard, then, tried to pinch myself. Was I imagining things of blood loss?

Dad, can mortals with the Second Sight see the Morningstar Insigni-lasagna-thinga?

Danyeel, it’s called an Insignia. Now I want your mother’s lasagna, honey. And of course they can. But mortals with the Second Sight all died out over half a century ago, with the Spanish Influenza.

But my new human friend saw it.

You always had an overactive imagination, Danny Boy. Heh. Go back to enjoying your time making new friends, okay? Remember, we have nothing to fear from mortals. They are beneath us.

“Aren’t you a human?” I blurted.

Daniel shushed me. “Uh, not really. I think dad wants me to keep it a secret, but middle school and moving here all alone is so hard, I need like, one friend Julie Bear. You’re as squishy as a gummy bear. Heh. Just don’t tell dad. I’m shielding psychically. He can’t hear us.”

Nana’s and mama’s old stories of the fey came flooding back to me. Gacanoghs bleeding wee “lassies” dead on a barrow of love. Leanen sidhe sucking sailors dry. The redcaps with blood on their hands.

And. Red eyes.

The Unseelie.

“Are you… a Good Neighbor???” I slurped up the nata jelly and tapioca. “Do you want milk out on the stoop? I guess I do have the Second Sight. And Second Earsight.”

“I’m a bad neighbor. I always play my Gibson real loud. Dad got it to me when we moved to Earth. He’s trying to do this new thing with demon deals and humans. Easier to control and lure souls or whatevs.”

“Sounds like a Republican.”

“He’s a massive strict dictator, but he has a soft side. You know, obsessed with birds like old people. He says he can finally do a birding good year. Big year. Ginormous year. Or something here. We watched this ancient Jack Black movie about it.”

“Peaches.”

“Peaches peaches!” Daniel – Danyeel’s? – snub nose, wide mauvy blue eyes, and tannish gold skin shone. He had really massive braces, and a few pimples, and was way too skinny and tall, like his growth spurt hadn’t filled out.

“Cool, you’re the first nonhuman I met.”

“You’re my first human friend. Can you introduce me to peeps on my first day of school tomorrow?”

“Uh, you promise you’re not a – you know. Kin of the Air. Under the barrow.”

“I hate fairies, dude. Ick. Allergies. I’m a demon. The hair of loom of demons. Danyeel Morningstar.”

“Like Morningstar Farms food stuff. Mama likes that. And Stroopwaffels.”

We were battling our Sunglasses Squirtle and Cosplay Pikachu on Pokemon Go V3.

“No, like, you know…” Daniel – Dan – Danyeel – Dan Dynamite – leaned over to whisper in my ear. “Lucifer and Lilith are my mom.”

“I renounced Catholicism when they said I couldn’t be Pope when I asked in Sunday School in the third grade. I think your dad is the good guy. Women shouldn’t have to labor and be fruitful and multiply. Apples are tasty, and we’d be slaves to God or whatever.”

His Squirtle won. “Yeah! Eh, Michael is my uncle and godfather. I think everyone gets along. It’s all about politics and neutrality and decorationum. Décor-yum?”

“Your dad seems to use a lot of good big words.”

“Mom’s Queen of Hell. Dad kind of just works for her.”

“Like Madame President and the First Husband?”

“Maybe. Want mooncakes? They make them year-round here, the old lady cashier said.”

“Okay.”

Dan came over later that night when I was looking for four leaf clovers in Cub Run Stream Valley. Nana refused to go there on account of a rain owl who had appeared one day apparently being an “accursed changeling, my wee lass.”

I liked the owls, snakes, and ducks.

“I didn’t know you liked the woods.”

“I like trying poisonous mushrooms. Demons can eat rocks, minerals, poison, toxins. Uncle Asmo likes Radithor with candied violets. Mama puts radium in her tea. It helps demon digestion.”

I made him a quick dandelion bracelet. “You know, Dan Dynamite, it’s a lot today. I always knew there were fairies, but demons? Huh. I don’t think I’m scared of demons. Do you cut mince pies from children’s thighs with which to feed the fairies? Like Mad Maudlin and the Boys of Bedlam?”

Dan and I laid down and cloud-gazed. “I like your ideas, Jules Bear, but you’re kind of weird. We don’t touch humans until they’re like, old enough and mature enough to do demon deals. And it’s not souls we take, just ideas – demons are inspired to create things along with humans, like music. How do you think rock was made?”

“Oh. That makes sense.”

Dan blew a dandelion pod. It got on my face.

I sneezed. He laughed. “Sorry. And your hair is really red. Like my real eyes. Everyone hates fairies. They’re evil hicks. Well, some are pretty and nice. But I guess they are not as bad as goblins. Sometimes thirteen-year-olds go on the Geocities Satanist 90s website that are somehow, like, still there or whatever, and summon my dad’s underlings. Then the girls ask for nail polish or Chappell Roan tickets, or sometimes, a twenty-three-year-old lonely girl asks for a friend or boyfriend. Dad tends to send those desperate girls shadow demons in gray sweatpants. It’s like, their uniform. They are incubi.”

“What’s an incubi?”

“Mom is a succubus. Daddy’s a fallen angel. I don’t know. They won’t tell me most grown-up secret things. I don’t even know how I’ll save up enough Hell Dollars to buy Falling in Reverse tickets. Everything in Hell is taxed at 99.9% to encourage black market operations in Asmodeus’ gambling dens and crap with blood at the bar-margarine.”

“Bargain?”

“I don’t know. Dad taxes my allowances. He makes me file things. It’s sorted by decades – he says the Baby Boomers died of over-indulgence. I don’t know what that means. Hell kind of is like, uh, a waiting room for bad souls to learn lessons. Then, they can move on to happier pastures. Well, mom says so.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad. Is Hell at least clean?”

“Yeah, dad’s a real hardbutt for that. And mom runs Hell as tight as an ironclad ship. Wants Hell to be as pretty as the Silver City Uncle Michael runs.”

We arm wrestled. Daniel won. I won the second time.

“You’re strong. I want Taylor tickets.”

“Not even Lamia my best friend in hell can get Taylor tix. And her dad is Mammon. He’s like, the richest King in Hell.”

“Oh. Well, I guess I’ll have no luck. Dan, what’s it like being a demon?”

“Uh, wanna see my wings, tail, and horns?”

“Eh, sure.”

“He just looks like a boy made of snips, snails, and puppy dog tails. Like a guy who does pranks on MicTok.”

“Nah, Jie, he’s a demon.”

“Prove it!”

“He eats rocks. And mushrooms.”

“Salt is a rock. I eat salt,” Jeihon countered as we played Go Fish at lunch. “And I eat a lot of chanterelles. Dad is a forager.”

“That sounds fancy.”

“So, am I a demon?”

“Jeihon, god, no!”

“Can I, uh, sit with you?” Dan said, coming over, blushing and nervous. “Um, can we be friends? So far, Jules is my only friend here.”

“That depends. Name Taylor’s best album.” Jeihon scooted over anyway and motioned for Dan to sit. I rolled my eyes.

“Jie, go easy on him. He’s a guy. They’re not really into this stuff besides ‘Evermore’ and ‘Folklore.’”

“I like ‘Red’,” Dan said. “I listened to it. Taylor’s Version. Mom plays it all the time, actually, I realized. I asked her what one song was about, and momma Lil cursed and said that mustard John Mayer.”

“Why would she call Taylor’s toxic abusive ex a mustard?”

“I think that word is supposed to start with a B, Dan Bear,” I said gently.

“Sorry, my ram’s horns make it hard to hear sometimes.”

We pulled out our lunches. Danyeel had shwarama and little German sausages and a pack of red cabbage. I had leftover blood pudding, roast carrots, and a bowl of Irish stew. Mom liked to make lots of stuff with potatoes. Jeihon had some Choong Man Korean fried chicken.

“I BROUGHT ENOUGH TO SHARE!” Jeihon said. “Dad owns one of the franchise restaurants, Dan. And I hate Irish food unless it’s like, a Cornish pasty or haggis. So I can’t steal Jules’ lunch.”

“Hey, Jules the Ginger, Eating Blood for Dinner!” Raul my bully called.

I stuck out my tongue. “You wish your mom packed your lunch.”

Suddenly, a snake appeared on Raul, strangling him. It had rainbow scales.

I freaked. Only I could see it, it seemed. Second Sight. Raul was choking, but didn’t know what was going on!

I looked over at Danyeel. His eyes were burning red, and his tail, wings, and horns poked through, alongside a bloody industrial halo, like something from one of dad’s Rammstein albums.

“Psst, Dan. Stop. You can’t curse people at school. That makes you no better than an Unseelie.”

Dan’s concentration broke, and the snake disappeared, Raul gasping for air. “Hey, I’m not a seal! I’m a hippo! I like hippos! And elephants! I am not wet! I don’t like taking baths, I’d rather be covered in dirt like the crust punks that built the scene!”

“You’re odd, Dan. What scene? What crust, like pizza?” Jeihon asked, scrolling on Sinstagram.

“Unseelie! Not a seal! Yeah, he’s weird, Jie.”

“Well, he did something freaky to Raul. Okay, Dan, you can be a demon if you want. But you need to work on your spelling.”

“I can only really read Enochian.” Danyeel pulled out a yo yo and did tricks.

“Ooo!” Jeihon said.

He balanced the string on his nose and did a yo yo backflip.

“Yeah, you’re right Jules,” Jeihon whispered, her black pearl eyes sparkling prettily. “Only a demon would be cool enough to do yo yo tricks.”

We were in math class, working on equations. Dan was scribbling in strange patterns on his practice sheet.

He showed it to me. It had a bunch of things that looked like Lucky Charms, but more sinister.

“Is this right?” Daniel asked.

I pursed my lips. “Hmm, no. But the circles look like zeroes, sort of. Do you know normal math?”

“Only glossolia from Hildegard Von Bingen. It’s how my Uncle Beelzebub taught me, here,” Dan said, winking and looking sneaky. He folded the paper in half, a portal opened with red flaming stuff, and he reached into the middle of the bent paper to pull out Popeye’s chicken. “Math is reality. Demons and angels are just physics with personality. I’m the demon of dark matter. I store a lot of snacks in dark matter. Mom took me to this realllllly good restaurant, Popeye’s, by the Korean coffeeshop and her nail salon in Centreville, and oh man, fried chicken. Oh man oh man.”

The teacher was snoozing. Mr. Laneyson always fell asleep. He was like, 85, and had an old man’s alertness. He always just gave us our homework early halfway through, then dozed. Most of our schoolwork was digital, on the Smartboard, but he did everything paper. It was catching on. Loose schooling – unattaching Gen Alpha kids from being too digital. We were in Gifted and Talented, so things were a bit different, if you catch my drift.

But not as different as summoning Popeyes from your math homework.

“Dark matter sounds useful. Teach me. And give me chicken, please, Dan Dynamite.”

“It’s really spicy, Jules Bear. Can you teach me math, then I’ll always feed you Popeyes? Uncle Ahriman taught me noetic shielding and summoning, so I can block anyone’s perception, even my massive narc dad.”

I munched on the chicken. Mmmmmm! “So we can sneak snacks, and no one notices? I don’t want Jeihon to be in on this, dude. I want you to be my best guy friend. Jeihon is my best girl friend. Emos are okay. I like coquette and cottagecore. Jeihon is like, kinda artsy, I’m kind of cutesy, and you can be the edge of the group. We can make a Pinterest board and Pokemon Go V3 team to match the aesthetic. Girls on MicTok talk about “aesthetic” a lot. And BookTok. Hmmmm.”

“Okay, I’ll use dark matter only for you, and try to teach you – but your fairy blood is pretty faint. It will take a stroke of luck, for you to use noetics, I mean, it’s pretty basic, but I’m not thattttt talented, and I’m only like, twelve.”

“I’m twelve too.”

“Yeah, and fairy magick is elemental and magick. Mine is blood, math, quantum mechanics, and prototime. Well, dad likes crystals, and mom is a kitchen witch.”

“My mom gets grumpy in the kitchen too.”

Recess came. Jeihon had ditched us to hang with Shameka and Jessie. They were playing with some battle tops called Girlslash. They were supposed to be this girl-centered revamp on dad’s collection of Beyblades. Sometimes, dad got really stressed at work on Capitol Hill – he called it Capitol Hell – so he’d come home, set up his Beyblades and this tabletop nerd thingy called Warhammer 40k where he painted dorky space soldiers, blasted Disturbed (an old dad band, ick), and made the Beyblades take down the space soldiers.

Mom hated it.

“Hey, Dan, wanna see my Girlslashes? I have a She-Ra, Catra, and Glimmer one.”

“He-Man and Teela and Skeletor are my faves, do you have those?”

“Sure. BY THE POWER OF ETERNIA.”

“I HAVE THE POWER.”

I had pulled them out of my backpack right away, and we were battling the tops with their magnetic points on the blacktop of the basketball court – Girlslashes were meant to be used on sidewalks and stuff – and letting the ripcords go.

“Check your phone, the GirlHash app. It tells you your battle stats. They have little chips in them, and the heroes move and do tricks and stuff.”

We loaded them on their phones.

“Sick, I unlocked Skeletor XP 1,000 and the Castle of Grayskull Diamond Candies!!!” Dan said.

I felt blue, like Taylor driving away from Taylor Lautner in December. “Umm… I lost.”

Tears dotted my eyes. I hated losing.

Danyeel patted my shoulder. “It’s okay, Julie. You won at Toy Story Uno.”

I warmed. “Heh, yeah. Hey, can we see if I’m magick? Like the Popeyes thing you did last period.”

Danyeel brightened, we put my Girlslashes in my backpack, then we went inside for Language Arts. “No time left, time for school! I’ll show you at the park tonight, okay? Then mom and dad want you over for dinner.”

[dangerousqueenbee]

Jinger Duggar Gets Called Out For Putting Jana To Work Again

[ninasbookshelf]

mid-year book freakout 2024

hi all! it's time again for a mid-year book review post! to reiterate, this is not my own idea but a trend i've seen make the rounds on social media over the past several years. i'm not sure what the original version of this is or who made it, but i combined several of my favorite questions to make this edition. feel free to fill out your own, and add any other questions or info you like!

also.. i'm thinking of creating a version of this post but for webtoons... i think that would be fun lolol

i did this last year too if you're interested: my 2023 mid-year book freakout

and if you want to do your own mid-year book tag with these questions: blank questions if you want to fill this out yourself

let’s get started!

Amount of books you’ve read so far: 24

Best book you’ve read so far this year: not including re-reads, I think the best book i've read this year is either How to Murder Your Life by Cat Marnell or Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa (very different options!!). Or Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura… i can’t decide!

Best sequel you’ve read so far this year: if we’re sticking with books i read for the first time in 2024, i loved volumes 9 and 10 of Tsubasa Yamaguchi’s manga series Blue Period. i am slowly but surely working my way through the series and very excited to read more of it. as an alternative, i can’t help but mention that i’m currently re-reading The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (third book in the Queen’s Thief series) and it is sooo good!! it may be my favorite book in that series!? i’ll have to re-read the rest of them to know for sure.

New release you haven’t read yet but want to: Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland! i’ve heard great things about this book, particularly for fans of Six of Crows. it’s at the top of my list!

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: the upcoming Sally Rooney book, Intermezzo!! i've loved everything i've read by Sally Rooney, and i’m very excited for more.

Biggest disappointment: Strip Tees: A Memoir of Millenial Los Angeles by Kate Flannery. Strip Tees details one woman's experience working for American Apparel at the height of the company’s popularity in the 2000s. i will do a longer post on this book later, but in short i found the writing lackluster and the author's attitude off-putting and disappointing. i still don't know what she was trying to convey with the tone.

honorary mention: Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Vuolo. i paid for this book on my kindle and quickly realized it wasn’t at all what i thought it would be, which isn’t Jinger Vuolo’s fault but was still disappointing at the time, lol. it just wasn’t for me; i ended up DNFing it. oh well!

Biggest surprise: Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa! this book was a spontaneous purchase on my e-reader before a flight, and i just loved it. such a heartwarming story i will definitely read again.

Favorite new author (debut or new to you): Cat Marnell. she isn’t a new author but is (sort of) new to me. i had her book How to Murder Your Life on my to-read list for a few years (sorry it took so long!) and i finallly read it this year. twice, actually! i love her writing style and am really happy to hear she’s working on another book.

Newest fictional crush: i don't think i have any new ones!! i haven't been reading as much fantasy/adventure as i did the previous few years, and those books are usually where my fictional character crushes come from. i am re-reading the Queen’s Thief series though, and of course still love Gen!

Favorite character: oh man. i could name so many. Gen and Costis, among so many other characters in the Queen’s Thief series… but if we’re going for a series i’m reading for the first time, i’ve definitely developed a soft spot for Yotasuke after reading volume 10 of Blue Period. (and Yatora is a great character as always too)

Book that made you cry: Sweet Bean Paste

Book that made you happy: ...Sweet Bean Paste

A book I want to read by the end of year: there are so many. i’ll go with My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki! i’m still marching towards reading all of her works. (i’ve finally started reading it since i first answered this question. progress!)

that’s all for this year’s mid-year book tag! i hope you enjoyed, and feel free to tag me if you fill out your own.