#so yeah I'm rusty

[tabbyphobos]

Book Review: Mistaken Reality by Traci Hunter Abramson

TL;DR: Bin it.

Today I finished reading Mistaken Reality by Traci Hunter Abramson. I’ve been reading it for two weeks, with a sizeable break to play Sims since I hated it so much. But it’s really easy to just pick up and not finish books, and that’s how I got into a reading slump last year, so I’m making the effort.

I got this book from the library when I went to print a shipping label; my OCD declared it the next book to get. I had already tried it in the past and thought the opening was bad, but like I said, I wanted to make the effort and try to see if there was any diamond in this rough.

Mistaken Reality is labelled as Christian, but I wouldn’t call it that. Clean thriller is what I would put in my spreadsheet if I was to have my own copy. It’s halfway to cozy, if it wasn’t for the sheer number of government agents in the story.

The story starts off with a woman named Hadley going to dinner with her boyfriend and some of his work friends, like his boss. They unceremoniously break up almost on the spot over something that if you had been dating for six months, you would have talked about by now. Anyway, she goes to the bathroom to cry when an FBI agent named JD comes in and tells her she needs to leave and that the restaurant is being evacuated. They get out just seconds before a car bomb goes off outside.

If you thought the plot of the story is a whodunnit, you’d be wrong. They already know who done it: an international criminal named Rabell that they know is also into human trafficking. How do they know this? They got a tip outside the scope of the story, making it seem like you are accidentally reading a book two-plus, but you’re not. This is a standalone.

In the first three chapters so many government agents from the FBI, CIA, and others are introduced with almost identical voices and hardly any description that they are mentally interchangeable. It’s only later on that there is some difference, and really only in who’s married to who. Two of the characters are basically gone for 80% of the book after being introduced.

One of the agent characters leaves the country midway through the book to go on a semi-related mission that feels like a non sequitur until the book’s climax, leaving the reader wondering why they should care about Kelsey and her team of SEALs that refer to each other by their first names (government types are usually all last names) and point blank ask her her real name even though she’s two or more layers undercover. AND SHE TELLS THEM. FOR A PRAYER. What, was it not going to work unless she gave the guy leading the prayer her real name that’s been kept Top Secret for safety reasons? I half expected him to betray them all. And once they finish the mission, the book is only about two-thirds through.

The rest of the story is detective stuff, but since they know who, and even how, they just need a motive, I guess? Even though this guy is a known human trafficker that they are trying to get in custody for reasons unrelated to the bombing? It devolves mostly into trying to find out when and how he can be found.

Here’s the saving grace: the climax of the book actually feels climactic and actually has some tension. It’s not just a romance dressed up as a thriller with a side of military operations at that point. It actually grabs the reader and holds on. Too bad it took 200+ pages to get there.

Would I recommend giving it a shot? No. I’m just glad I didn’t have to pay the $17 it’s priced at for the displeasure of reading it. Bin it, and use your public library, even if it has some stinkers in the stacks.

[rachmcadams]

"I feel physically, that's what's different."

Klute (1971) dir. Alan J. Pakula

[silvers-starrway]

Throws another mdau doodle dump in here featuring randum stuff and some shots from ep 8. Oh and also a Kit!! Gotta mess around with his design more for sure

MDAU Masterlist

[tblsomedoodles]

a stupid Preferable Alternative doodle b/c i'm getting back into the swing of things and am feeling excited about this again.

[timmie15]

I made buddy into a decal

It took me hours ok i'm so normal for him..

I'm not doing decals often but I wanted to try something fun this time :} not sure how did i do.. I tried my best

also stickerss <3

Share ID for Rusty decal:

Rusty's design by @beth4short-blog

I'll probably make Iguazu too

[displacedbias]

penny from @ask-all-the-kindergarteners hands you a tulip!

[Felix]: Teddy seems to be... erm, preoccupied at the moment.

[Felix]: --But I promise I'll show him the tulip once he gets back! Thank you again. How sweet of you.

[egginfroggin]

Well he's yours now

(Program: Krita; time taken: about 3 hours [more than intended ough :/])

[kazumahashimoto]

everybody collect your bitches @planetamarte @funshinebf @sungsuho @laloward @icetones @beybladeninja

[op3ra]

guys. i've um. i've been lying about rust repair the whole time. yeah sorry i never actually shipped them. they were just a coverup for my one true otp.........espressball.....

[active-mind-15]

[Art related to my fic, Accidental Siblings.]

Friendos! I'm back with more cute baby Bokushi fanart based on this headcanon of mine from my fic. I know Mibuchi has shorter hair in Extra/Last Game, but I like being in denial so I gave him back his inches. Anyway, hope you enjoy the fluffiness. 🤭

[doctor-octiddius]

BREAKING NEWS: WEIRD AL HAS TAKEN ANOTHER PRISONER (aka hey guys, I have an accordion now)

[rhonuscorner]

Have a WIP to show that I'm not actually dead when it comes to drawing DCA stuff. Also, new AU yaaaaay! No I haven't forgotten about my circus theater AU, but these two suddenly decided they have a right to take up space in my brain and wanted a story to go with it, so that's a thing now. I can't wait to actually show off their designs, so happy with how they came out.

I'm calling this AU the Eclipse Protocol and I'm really excited about it 👀 I say that while I still haven't uploaded the first chapter of Cirque des Célestes, which is still sitting unfinished at 14k+ words which is way too big and I have yet to figure out how I'm gonna tackle that and make that story manageable. I don't have the brain power for that right now, so I'm giving the new AU priority for the moment.

I also have a love/hate relationship with drawing robo hands/joints/parts aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. It's fun but it hurts my brain.

[hercarisntyours]

The ones who load the dice, always say the toss is fair. (hadestown au)

Orion looked around, panic setting in. Is it true what they say? Is there truly no way to get his love back. That's he's too late? She's truly gone? He walked all this way, why? just to play the part of a pawn in the God's cruel game of chess?

He's out of his mind.

How did he so foolishly believe. Nothing changes and nothing will.

Orion understands now. They're all playing a fixed game. His role involves him getting beaten and betrayed.

He's blinded by guilt, regret and doubt.

And hope. A spark of hope still burns with-in him.

He sings his voice loud. He asks the walls. Is it true? what they say, is it true?

Pickaxes stop ringing. The ringing in his ears doesn't.

He turns to go, Ariel would be disappointed, he could never stand up right.

The answer to his question will never be heard. Not in this concrete jungle.

The workers hear his.

He realises the ones who deal the cards, are the ones who take the tricks.

He who says the words, is always the one to say they are the last.

The walls repeat his words. Standing up and listening.

He shouts his answer out. For he hears the workers now, no longer questioning them; but the wall they had been so desperately building. If they have the will, there's a way to break it down. He believes they are many, and those he questions are few. 

If it's true, he'll be on his way. After all, what can a few do against so many?

[mars-ipan]

ive never danganed any ronpa but nagito komaeda looks like an opossum. the hair. the expressions. in my heart i want to see him with one. despite his luck making him nervous around animals i think? and him living in japan maybe????

also hajime gives me opossum vibes.

kind of love the idea of animals just Happening to komaeda. i feel like animals just happen to him sometimes. help him

[claudiajcregg]

Tonight I can write the saddest lines. I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too. Through nights like this one I held her in my arms. I kissed her again and again under the endless sky. She loved me, sometimes I loved her too. How could one not have loved her great still eyes. Tonight I can write the saddest lines. To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her.

Poem XX: I Can Write (Pablo Neruda)

[cass-cc]

Jonny Live Slug Reaction to the "Magnus Returns!!!" Design

Video description/captions under the readmore

Alex: Bit of admin as well before we go any further is: We have limited edition merch which is currently on sale.

[ID: a clip from the Rusty_Quill "The Magnus Archives 2 Kickstarter Pre-Launch!" Livestream. On screen are Alexander J Newall, Helen Gould, as well as a PNG headshot of Jonny Sims standing in for his video.

Helen: Ooh!

Alex: Uh, it- I- It is unashamedly - Has one of my favorite designs in it.

Helen: It's so funny.

Alex: I love- I love the Bee Movie schlocky, schlocky, like-

Helen, overlapping and laughing: It's so- It's so-

Jonny, overlapping: Where actually - ah - where actually is it?

Alex, overlapping: Ahhh! It's coming to get you!

Jonny: 'Cause I haven't actually... had a look at it.

Alex: So the limited edition -

Helen, laughing: Oh, Jonny, you should look at it now!

Alex: Oh, Jonny... So, the limited edition merch- it is available if you go to rustyquill.com. You can click through to all of our normal merch stores that have it. Yes, those designs are going to be around, uh, well into the- the launch-

Jonny, overlapping, having just seen The Design: Oh, Jeeze!

Alex: - so as a result, you don't need to worry-

Jonny: That's-

(a pause)

Alex: Go on, Jonny?

Jonny: U-uh. That... That's a choice...

(Alex laughs)

Helen: Yeah, yeah, Jo- Yeah, you saw it. You saw our favorite design ever.

Jonny: Did uhhh, Alex, did you- did you design this one?

(Helen laughs)

Alex: I wish I had those kind of skills. I'm just so glad it went full ham!

Jonny: Hmm, hmm.

Alex: I love it!

Jonny: Hmmm.

(Alex chuckles)

Jonny: Hm.

Helen: It's so funny!

Jonny: Yup, it's-

(Helen begins laughing as well)

Jonny: Hmm!

(Alex chuckles, evilly)

Jonny: Mmhmm! Hm-hmm... Mmmmm... Good.

Alex: So- they will be around until the launch is done, but then will be gone forever! They will not be back! They are- they are limited edition, and thus the editions are limited!

Jonny: And somewhat- some- some might say that is a relief.

(Alex and Helen laugh)

Helen: Jonny, I have to make you aware that you can buy the very cheesy design on a bedspread, to entice the ladies.

Jonny: On a what?

Helen, laughing: Like a duvet cover.

Alex: Unless I'm mistaken, I think you might even be able to get it as a tapestry?

Helen: Oh!!

Alex: Like, like, big, full wall size, uh.

Helen, laughing: Yes!!! - Oh my god, can you get it as a shower curtain? I know they do shower curtains.

Alex: Yes! Yes, you can. Yes, you can.

/END ID]