#this is a half-hearted Diana Wynne Jones reference

[hyperpotamianarch]

One of my biggest problems is my being fixted on certain Rules.

Now, it would've been bad enough if I really only held myself to those rules. Nobody cares if I only write poetry one specific way, or if I insist on reading only the most canon-compliant fics, or if I try being realistic and accurate when talking about alternate histories. Well, those things aren't exactly bad as they're all my choices, but they do close me in a very narrow box. And making myself stand up to particular high standards... well, we call that perfectionism and it's not all too good.

But the problem is, I occasionally find myself applying my Rules to other people. And that's a problem. No, this person doesn't actually have to stick to the rhyming patterns of the poem they write a continuation to, they can write it however they want. This joke is funny, it doesn't need to be edited for historical accuracy. If people are having fun and/or being creative, I have no right to criticize them because their fun and art isn't up to my Rules' standards.

I don't have to correct inconsequential perceived historical inaccuracies. As a matter of fact, I really should not to that as it's just pedantic bordering on patronizing and would most likely just serve to annoy people, especially with how inconsequential it usually is.

But it can drive me nuts sometimes. The poem is right there, it's not that hard to recognize the rhyming scheme; a joke about one person that sounded funny cannot be applied to another person with a completely different genre of writing; this alternate history couldn't occur because the key event isn't really when you thought it was. And the problem is me and my perfectionism, not people having fun without obeying these Rules. But it makes it very hard to not respond with corrections no one asked for, or write a condescending post seeking to inform about the topic but ending up heavily hinting at that one wrong thing I saw someone write.

I'm not very good at relaxing this urge. So I have a conundrum: either I say nothing and keep it all in my brain - in which case it will rise every now and then and drive me up the walls, because someone is wrong on the Internet and doesn't opperate by my Rules, or I break and write the post - only for it to heavily hint at where my frustration is directed at now, staying just shy of saying it outright and tagging the person who lit it up. And I don't think either of those is a good option. Bottling down my emotions would cause them to explode, and letting them run free will end up hurting people.

So yeah, I really would appreciate advice.

[milpedancawira-blog]

Must Watch List

As a person who enjoys watching movies and series(like most do), I have my fair share of favorites. I’ve had a great experience in watching these movies and series and from them, I have actually learned a lot and I’d want nothing more than to share with y’all the joys I have had in experiencing them. So here I have a list of the ones that I highly recommend that you watch...

Her 

“Her” is a romantic drama set in a hypothetical, not-so-distant future wherein technology has consumed us, more than it already has. It was written and directed by Spike Jonze. It stars actors Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson. 

Phoenix plays a character named Theodore, and over the course of the film, we see him experience desperation and longing for love as he copes with his loneliness which stemmed from his recent divorce. He slowly develops feelings for his personalized operating system which named herself Samantha, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. The movie is filled with heartfelt moments and scenes that show you the flaws that come with a seemingly perfect relationship. I just find the concept so interesting, to see a person so driven by his or her loneliness that they could develop romantic feelings for even a computer. Overall it is a great film, before watching it I should probably warn you about upcoming scenes that will just shock and confuse you, but you will just have to cross that bridge when you get there. Lastly, it features one of my favorite songs “The Moon Song” by Karen O and Spike Jonze, you should also give that a listen.

Over the Garden Wall

“Over the Garden Wall” is an animated miniseries by Partick McHale. It follows the journey of two half-brothers Wirt and Greg as they find their way home out of the deep forest they call “The Unknown”

The show gives you a vibe that is reminiscent of the 70s or 80s as it is seemingly set in that time period but not explicitly said, that vibe personally attracted me even more to it. You may become attached to the two main characters, Wirt and Greg, and the development of their brotherly bond as they explore “The Unknown”. Along the way, they meet new friends and by the end of their journey, they reap the rewards of the struggles that they had to go through. You can find the episodes on Netflix and it only has 10 episodes so I recommend you should give this one a watch on if you're into ominous, creepy and eerie things.

Howl’s Moving Castle

Among this list and basically any other movie that I have watched, I’d said this movie ranks number one. Howl’s Moving Castle is a Japanese animated fantasy film by Studio Ghibli, written and directed by legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki. The movie derived inspiration from the 1986 novel of the same name written by British author Diana Wynne Jones.  

I don’t know what it is specifically about the movie that makes me gravitate towards it. I feel like I could watch the movie endlessly and each time I would just love it even more. It’s simply beautiful.  If you are interested in watching it I want you to go in fully blind so I won’t say much about the story itself but it is personally the best movie I have ever watched and I highly suggest that you watch it too. 

Karakai Jouzo no Takagi-San

It was originally a Japanese manga series by Soichiro Yamamoto, although it is still ongoing, an animated adaptation of the manga has also been produced by Shin-Ei Animation, which is currently ongoing as well with its second season.

This series is honestly just really cute. Each episode finds ways to make your heart melt as the two main characters continue to develop their relationship, and when something remotely romantic happens between them you might just find yourself screaming like an idiot. Feel free to catch up with the current season, you might find yourself just as in love with this series as I am. 

Steven Universe

“Steven Universe” is an animated television series by Rebecca Sugar. It is the first of Cartoon Networks many animated shows solely created by a woman.  It follows the adventures of a young boy named (you guessed it) Steven Universe as he discovers his capabilities as a half-human half gem. With him are three humanoid aliens who call themselves the Crystal Gems, among them, are Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst who essentially act as the motherly figure for Steven.

Steven Universe is another show that I along with my siblings have enjoyed watching. We have bonded over them and it has essentially become part of us as we still continue to talk about it and make references to it from time to time. It’s a wonderful and heartwarming show with some of the best writing and story-telling that I have seen in any animated series. By the end, you will just be in awe with how so many things tie in together, and with a movie coming by next month and a 6th season following it, I along with my siblings will be having a great time watching it. Luckily, if you haven’t watched it yet, you don’t get to experience the year-long hiatuses the series is also famous for.

So these were just a few of my favorites. Sorry to cut it at five, I just felt that if I added more, then this post would have been way too long. Anyhow, I hope y'all take my recommendations into consideration, and that you find them as wonderful as I did. That's all for now. 

Ramy signing off...

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_(film)

http://www.hd-trailers.net/movie/her/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_the_Garden_Wall

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt3718778/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howl%27s_Moving_Castle_(film)

https://m.movieposter.com/poster/MPW-46633/Howl_s_Moving_Castle.html

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0594503/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teasing_Master_Takagi-san

https://animepahe.com/anime/karakai-jouzu-no-takagi-san-2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Universe

https://www.amazon.com/Steven-Universe-Poster-24x36-inches/dp/B01HUGZ43Y

[ladyherenya]

Books read in October

It’s a few days into a new month and not only have I reviewed everything I read last month, I’ve compiled this post. Usually that takes me longer.

I didn’t feel like I needed to include any rereads this month, partly because I don’t really have anything new to say about the trio of favourites I reread: The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones, Sunshine by Robin McKinley and The Changeover by Margaret Mahy. I still love those books.

(Longer reviews and ratings are on LibraryThing. And also my Dreamwidth blog.)

The Murderbot DIaries: Exit Strategy by Martha Wells:  A very satisfying “season finale”, which pulls together threads from the previous novellas into a high-stakes, fast-paced conclusion. Murderbot, a rogue SecUnit, has been gathering evidence of corporate wrongdoing under its own initiative. But its investigation has been noticed and Dr Mensah, who legally owns Murderbot, is in trouble. I enjoyed this enormously. Read it and then reread it. Bookmarked all the quotes. I am delighted by Murderbot -- sarcastic, socially-anxious, obsessed with serials, reluctantly caring, still working out what it means to be a bot with autonomy and feelings. Next up is apparently a Murderbot novel -- more Murderbot, hurray!

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith: Finally, the fourth book! This was engrossing. I liked it for the reasons I liked the previous books: a solid mystery with satisfyingly unexpected twists; the writing is charismatic, with an eye for visual details and astute observations (particularly about class, privilege and fame); and I enjoy reading about Strike and Robin and their investigative efforts. This isn’t as dark nor as dramatic as Career of Evil, and our detectives’ personal lives take up more space… which I’m not going to complain about! I am here for detectives having personal lives and I look forward to reading more about them.

Take Three Girls by Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell and Fiona Wood: A story about taking risks, making changes, discovering what is important, and dealing with the pressures of others’ expectations and with malicious cyber gossip. Clem (a swimmer), Kate (a nerdy cellist) and Ady (popular) are thrown together by their private school’s Year 10 “Wellness” class. I enjoyed reading this so much. It’s funny and feminist and sharply insightful about teenage experiences: school, friendships, romance, family, bullying. I loved the girls’ friendship and how they support each other, and the references to the things they’re passionate about. I liked the ending�� but wish it had more oomph.

Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi: Penny is starting college. Sam is a barista going through a difficult break-up. Penny likes wearing black, being prepared for emergencies and writing science-fiction. Sam likes wearing black, baking and making documentaries. They’re introduced by a mutual friend and soon after Penny gives Sam her number for “emergency contact”. But once they start texting, they can’t stop. (And I didn’t want to stop reading!) They understand each other’s references, trains of thought, anxiety and humour. They can talk about nearly everything. Their relationship is like a modern, digital, epistolary romance. More books like this one, please.

Cousin Kate by Georgette Heyer (narrated by Jilly Bond): Kate is invited by her aunt to stay at Staplewood Park. This is an unexpected and uncomfortable foray into Gothic suspense, with characters agonising over whether one of their relatives is mentally unstable and who else knows. Ugh. Although Kate never loses sight that this is still a person who deserves compassion, it’s an era where there wasn’t much of understanding of, nor effective means of treating, mental health issues. It becomes obvious that this situation cannot be resolved happily. I liked Kate and her very Heyer-ish romance. I’d have liked the suspense had Staplewood been home to different secrets.

Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne: A largely successful young adult Jane Eyre retelling in which the Earth has undergone an ice-age and people live in ships orbiting the planet. Stella, desperate to leave the run-down Stalwart, applies for a governess position on a privately-owned ship. I was pleasantly surprised by how Donne altered the events of Jane Eyre to fit her futuristic setting, rather than altering her setting to fit Jane Eyre. I liked that there were unexpected twists, and changes made sense in context. (I want a retelling to be sufficiently different, because otherwise I might as well just reread Jane Eyre.)

The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley: Someone recommended Kearsley’s books as similar to Mary Stewart’s, and this is most delightfully Mary-Stewart-ish. From the first page I was convinced that I would to love it. Verity Grey is offered a job on an archaeological dig near a fishing town in Scotland. This has atmosphere: history, scenery and mystery. I was fascinated by the historical details about the Romans, I enjoyed vivid depiction of Eyemouth, and there was enough suspense to keep me intrigued without becoming too spooky.  It also has characters who are intensely passionate about their work, and a romance which simmers away in the background.

The Karkadann Triangle: “Unicorn Triangle” by Patricia A. McKillip and “My Son Heydari and the Karkadann”  by Peter S. Beagle: Two short stories featuring unicorns. McKillip’s “Unicorn Triangle”, about a unicorn turned into a human, would be great if it were the beginning of a novel; as a short story, I found it unsatisfying. I’m not sure whether or not I liked Beagle’s “My Son Heydari and the Karkadann” but it’s a really solid short story which kept my interest.

The Element of Fire by Martha Wells (narrated by Derek Perkins): I took four chapters (over two hours of the audiobook) before becoming completely captivated. The beginning is eventful -- the captain of the Queen’s Guard rescues one sorcerer from another, there’s palace intrigue -- and I liked the worldbuilding, but I didn’t know why I should care. But when the king’s half-sister, the Fay sorceress Kade, confronts her family, something clicked. Here is the story’s fraught, emotional heart. I really enjoyed being surprised by Kade. I also enjoyed Thomas’ flashes of humour, and the interactions they have with the royal family. I liked this so much more than I was expecting to.

Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire (narrated by Michelle Dockrey):  It is rare that I read something which reminds me of Enid Blyton's fantasy, which was my introduction to fantasy stories. However, this novella, in which a group of teenagers go on a mission to a nonsense world, felt a lot like reading a grown-up, modern Faraway Tree adventure -- darker, with fewer dated stereotypes and with much more elegant prose. That perspective made it more interesting. It’s still not quite my aesthetic, but it isn’t as dark as Every Heart a Doorway and I liked how it followed on from that story.

[kattahj]

Thoughts on Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess

Thoughts on Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess:

When I started out on Clockwork Prince, I felt, "ugh, I am SO DONE with Clare, it'll be a relief when it's over!" But then it turns out that I quite liked them, and once I'd gotten properly started I finished them in a few days. True page-turners.

Which - I feel I'm getting predictable in my CC reviews - meant an A for the action scenes and a C- for the characterisation.

These two books had some solid pacing, and the way the chips fell in terms of the general plotlines worked well. When Tessa changed into Ithuriel, I sat back and nodded in awed appreciation - that's a damned clever use of setup to make sure that something that could have been a Deus ex Machina McGuffin felt like neither of those things. We've spent a lot of time getting acquainted with Tessa's power, with her angel necklace, and with angel powers - bam, combining those three things, and it's a resolution that truly pays off.

In terms of the characters, it probably didn't help that I'd saved TID for last, so I already knew what would happen with the Will/Tessa/Jem love triangle. Maybe if I'd been unspoiled, I would have enjoyed it more. But considering that I don't think there's been a romance in these books I've enjoyed so far - probably not.

One problem is that CC is terribly fond of explaining exactly how we're supposed to feel about the characters. And not just once, either. Over, and over, and over again.

Will's believed curse lacked punch, because I'd been told so many times that he was a better man than he let on - and everyone TREATED him like he was a better man than he let on. (I've talked more about this in my Clockwork Angel post.)

Likewise, I half wished I'd read these books as e-books just so I could have a search of how many times we're told how good and kind Jem is. Which doesn't seem to translate much in action beyond a general agreeableness. (But maybe not being a raging jerk to people is supposed to be seen as unusal kindness? IDEK.) I thought it rather odd that his outburst against Will in the opium den was seen as a crack in that goodness, because I'd say quite the opposite: friends do not let friends get high in seedy places run by ifrits. Nonconfrontational and good are two entirely different things. (Says I, who am prone to the former when I should be the latter.) Also, the fear of death he displayed afterwards was the first genuinely touching scene he'd had.

In fact, I'd say that the negative emotions, in general, were much better described than the positive ones. Distrust, rivalry, anger - those felt more genuine. Which was probably part of why I liked Jessamine so much in book #1. I was spoiled by what would happen to her and thought, "Can't I have ANYTHING!?" but then the Lightwood brothers turned out to somewhat make up for it. They weren't so clear-cut, in characterisation or loyalty, and that made them a whole lot more believable - as well as thoroughly enjoyable. (Though I couldn't help thinking of the Mayor of Sunnydale when Benedict was killed. I wonder if that was intentional.) I could have read entire books about them - though I suspect making them main characters would probably ruin them.

Charlotte isn't as nuanced, but I can't help it, I love her kind of quiet badassitude. Henry unfortunately fell out of favour with me, because he never seemed to move beyond that one note he was so painfully stuck in. Also, I realized that he's pretty much Mr. Weasley, and that's not even a character I liked the first time around.

Of course, the overabundance of Dickens references in these books didn't help, since he's a writer who shares some of the same qualities and failures: He spins a good yarn, but his characters are paper thin, he engages in bombastic sentiment without any basis in genuine emotion, and he tends to muddle the ending. He's a good enough writer to make up for some of it, but I do find him one of the more over-rated authors of classical literature, and I think modern writers who try to emulate him rather suffer for it. (Looking at you too, JK Rowling.)

...My dad claims that there are people who enjoy Dickens and people who enjoy Thackeray, and that he thinks I'm rather more of a Thackeray. But I haven't actually read Thackeray, so I can't say. (Though I'm positive in principle, seeing how he wrote Ivanhoe fanfiction complaining what an idiot Ivanhoe was for not marrying Rebecca. And so say all of us!)

And then there's the dialogue. Which, I know it's difficult to write 19th century dialogue in a way that's both credible and natural. But I still felt that it dipped into "turgid mess" a fair bit too often.

Of course, I do have to wonder if part of the problem is simply that I'm too old. Maybe twenty years ago, when I was in the right age group, I would have loved this stuff, just like I loved Outlander and Outsiders and all manner of corny things that don't even start with Out. :-)

But I'm not so sure. After all, I already back then had some pretty good favourites: Diana Wynne Jones, of course. Maria Gripe. (WHY hasn't anyone translated her Shadow tetralogy to English?) Selma Lagerlöf, to get right down to the classics.

And it's not like I've grown too sophisticated with the years - I thoroughly enjoy Mary Balogh, after all. And even teen fare like The Darkest Part of the Forest and Carry On can still find a place in my heart. Not to mention that I spent the entire first season of the Shadowhunters TV show calling it "my trashy soap opera" without that lessening my love one bit.

I just can't seem to extend that love to more than bits and pieces of the mothership.

Still. Solid plot. Pageturner. 1000+ pages breezed through in less than a week. That's not a bad result, all things considered.