zenayeeda

[zenayeeda]

Books to read if you like The Magnus Archives

While listening to Magnus Archives, a few of my favorite books kept popping up in my head. I nearly mistook a book for an episode at one point, so I thought i'd make a small list to share if anyone wanted a few good books.

House of Leaves

Mark Z. Danielewski

For lack of a better term, we’ll call House of Leaves a novel. It is more of an “experience.” This is a book about a book about a film about a house that is a labyrinth. Collapse all this and what do you get?–a book that is a labyrinth. This is a labyrinth written on a typographical landscape–footnotes, appendices, poems, bars of music, letters, journal entries, in different fonts, backwards, sideways, or all alone on stunningly white pages. The book is a labyrinth, a puzzle, and yet before anything else, it is a story. The story is about a house, a house that is bigger on the inside than on the outside. The story of this house has been documented in a film, The Navidson Record, shot by Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, Will Navidson, as he and his family moved into their new home. A mysterious hallway–dark and cold–has suddenly appeared. This hallway proves to be much more (or less) than it seems–it becomes a seething, shifting void within the house, an ominous architecture of pure darkness and indefinable dimensions. It will threaten Navidson’s wife, Karen; his two children; his estranged brother, Tom; his friends; and finally, Navidson himself, as he becomes obsessed with exploring the impossible cavern that has opened up within his home. In turn, The Navidson Record has become the obsession of a blind old man, Zampanò, who has assembled a massive scrapbook, the House of Leaves, full of articles, scholarship, commentary, transcripts, and personal writings all centering on the documentary. After his death, this scrapbook falls into the hands of Johnny Truant, a club-kid going nowhere fast, who becomes consumed by Zampanò’s scrapbook, by The Navidson Record, by the black-hole inside the house on Ash Tree Lane. Like Navidson, Truant is propelled by an irrepressible need to know, to see, and will stumble way beyond safety.

The Fisherman

John Langan

In upstate New York, in the woods around Woodstock, Dutchman's Creek flows out of the Ashokan Reservoir. Steep-banked, fast-moving, it offers the promise of fine fishing, and of something more, a possibility too fantastic to be true. When Abe and Dan, two widowers who have found solace in each other's company and a shared passion for fishing, hear rumors of the Creek, and what might be found there, the remedy to both their losses, they dismiss it as just another fish story. Soon, though, the men find themselves drawn into a tale as deep and old as the Reservoir. It's a tale of dark pacts, of long-buried secrets, and of a mysterious figure known as Der Fisher: the Fisherman. It will bring Abe and Dan face to face with all that they have lost, and with the price they must pay to regain it.

The Reddening

Adam L.G. Nevill

One million years of evolution didn't change our nature. Nor did it bury the horrors predating civilisation. Ancient rites, old deities and savage ways can reappear in the places you least expect. Lifestyle journalist Katrine escaped past traumas by moving to a coast renowned for seaside holidays and natural beauty. But when a vast hoard of human remains and prehistoric artefacts is discovered in nearby Brickburgh, a hideous shadow engulfs her life. Helene, a disillusioned lone parent, lost her brother, Lincoln, six years ago. Disturbing subterranean noises he recorded prior to vanishing, draw her to Brickburgh's caves. A site where early humans butchered each other across sixty thousand years. Upon the walls, images of their nameless gods remain. Amidst rumours of drug plantations and new sightings of the mythical red folk, it also appears that the inquisitive have been disappearing from this remote part of the world for years. A rural idyll where outsiders are unwelcome and where an infernal power is believed to linger beneath the earth. A timeless supernormal influence that only the desperate would dream of confronting. But to save themselves and those they love, and to thwart a crimson tide of pitiless barbarity, Kat and Helene are given no choice. They were involved and condemned before they knew it.

The Hollow Places

T. Kingfisher

A young woman discovers a strange portal in her uncle’s house, leading to madness and terror in this gripping new novel. Pray they are hungry. Kara finds these words in the mysterious bunker that she’s discovered behind a hole in the wall of her uncle’s house. Freshly divorced and living back at home, Kara now becomes obsessed with these cryptic words and starts exploring the peculiar bunker—only to discover that it holds portals to countless alternate realities. But these places are haunted by creatures that seem to hear thoughts…and the more you fear them, the stronger they become.

The Revival

Stephen King

In a small New England town, in the early 60s, a shadow falls over a small boy playing with his toy soldiers. Jamie Morton looks up to see a striking man, the new minister. Charles Jacobs, along with his beautiful wife, will transform the local church. The men and boys are all a bit in love with Mrs Jacobs; the women and girls – including Jamie’s mother and beloved sister – feel the same about Reverend Jacobs. With Jamie, the Reverend shares a deeper bond, based on their fascination with simple experiments in electricity. Then tragedy strikes the Jacobs family; the preacher curses God, mocking all religious belief, and is banished from the shocked town. Jamie has demons of his own. In his mid-thirties, he is living a nomadic lifestyle of bar-band rock and roll. Addicted to heroin, stranded, desperate, he sees Jacobs again – a showman on stage, creating dazzling ‘portraits in lightning’ – and their meeting has profound consequences for both men. Their bond becomes a pact beyond even the Devil’s devising, and Jamie discovers that revival has many meanings. Because for every cure there is a price…

Yellow Wallpaper

Charlotte Perkins Stetson

A woman and her husband rent a summer house, but what should be a restful getaway turns into a suffocating psychological battle. This chilling account of postpartum depression and a husband's controlling behavior in the guise of treatment will leave you breathless.

Horrorstor

Grady Hendrix

Something strange is happening at the Orsk furniture superstore in Cleveland, Ohio. Every morning, employees arrive to find broken Kjerring bookshelves, shattered Glans water goblets, and smashed Liripip wardrobes. Sales are down, security cameras reveal nothing, and store managers are panicking. To unravel the mystery, three employees volunteer to work a nine-hour dusk-till-dawn shift. In the dead of the night, they’ll patrol the empty showroom floor, investigate strange sights and sounds, and encounter horrors that defy the imagination.

So all of these books give me some kind of Magnus vibes but especially the Fisherman and House of Leaves

Please share horror books with me 🤩🤩🤩

[zenayeeda]

Seen a lot of comments like 'oh the Green Knight deviated from the source material but I still liked it.' Yup. Stories are interpreted and reinterpreted through the ages. Analysis is subject to changing culture and ways of thinking. This was such a visually arresting film, like the way the camera slowly, ever so slowly, turned around to show Gawaine's corpse, forcing us impatient viewers to think about death. So weird and beautiful.

[zenayeeda]

how is a Greek chorus like a lawyer / they're both in the business of searching for a precedent / finding an analogy / locating a prior example / so as to be able to say / this terrible thing we're witnessing now is / not unique you know it happened before / or something much like it / we're not a loss how to think about this / we're not without guidance / there is a pattern / we can find an historically parallel case / and file it away under / ANTIGONE BURIED ALIVE FRIDAY AFTERNOON / COMPARE CASE HISTORIES 7, 17 AND 49

Antigonick, Anne Carson p 33

[zenayeeda]

I'm rewatching random old Shane and Ryan videos while doing chores instead of listening to the news because the news makes me want to scream. Question: So why, um, like why... why do they chew food while looking into each other's eyes? They... do it a lot. I half expected one of them to open his mouth to gross out the other. Let's make intense eye contact while we nourish so we may have energy to argue later. I love the dork energy.

Ryan seems to have a real problem with Shane's mouth and the way he chews. Look me in the eyes and tell me they aren't brothers. Christ.

Also I'm late to this but that new office space Watcher has is amazing. I was like, you have a whole ass balcony! A second floor?! In this market?! Like what an upgrade! I'm like actually proud.

[zenayeeda]

This happened just 50 years ago. Within our parent's and grandparent's life being gay was considered a mental illness. I just think this is important to remember.

[zenayeeda]

The Depp case is so important because it does very publicly demonstrate that men can be victims too. I know a man who was abused and because of his mental illness everyone assumed he deserved it. However, despite his mental illness he is the nicest sweetest most peaceful man and I'm glad to call him my friend. The court in Depp's case is trying to use Depp's drug abuse as an excuse to build doubt against him. I think we have seen this sort of thing a million times with women who have been abused. Mental illness or drug abuse or anything else doesn't automatically mean the victim is a violent person. My friend was beaten with a baseball bat and couldn't lift a finger in defense because he believed no one would side with him, so he took all the abuse. His partner looked him in the eye and said no one will believe you, because your big and strong and crazy.

Men can be abused too. To say only women can be victims is detrimental in so many ways and damaging for feminism. It says women are 'weak' enough to experience this and men are intrinsically immune ie superior.

I dont particularly follow big actors but I have been watching the court case and I find Heards attitude to be typical of abusers I've seen personally in the past. The manipulation, the disrespectful body language towards authority figures that question her behavior, the laughter, these sort of people think they are above judgement, they feel entitled to their cruel behavior. I know from personal experience. My abuser never said he was sorry, never acknowledged his behavior was toxic and cruel and caused lasting damage to many people. He felt entitled to do as he pleased. I wouldn't be alive today if others hadn't stepped in. I've met others along my journey, including men, who live every day fighting to heal.

Also it should be noted that men as well as women who had abusive parents can seek out relationships similar to their parents. My friend, who had abusive parents, would say about his partner oh but she loves me, it's my fault, we have good times, it will get better, etc, loads of excuses. Classic textbook behavior. It took a suicide attempt to get him out.

And I have to add, it wasn't the physical abuse that hurt the most, it was the manipulation and gaslighting, the feeling of helplessness that hurt the most. Then, the shame and stigma.

I hope this Depp case sinks into the public mindset that gender, sexuality, class, mental illness, race, all those things and more don't matter, anyone can be abused. If you abuse someone you should be held accountable, no matter the 'circumstances.' There is no excuse.

[zenayeeda]

The best thing about the ghoul boys is like they are actual friends. I don't give a crap about ghosties and stuff, it's the way they banter and insult each other. Like it's work I get that, but they actually are totally fond of each other, and the crew. And then they went and adopted Steven as their little brother and ganged up on him a bit.

The journey they went on, from strangers to bff's to brothers. How they got this lovely crew that works hard (while being just done with Shane and Ryan). Wholesome af.

They could talk about ghosts or muppets or noodles, it's the found family that's so appealing, that makes whatever they do engaging. I think that's why they have such a lasting fan-base. So glad I found the show.

It's gonna be fun watching all of them flourish.

[zenayeeda]

Modern AU

Lucius is a therapist or counselor absolutely done with Stede and Ed talking about each other but not to each other.

Also Buttons: I talk to birds

Lucius: oookaaayy?

[zenayeeda]

Spoilers!

Everyone thinks Stede is a stupid spineless banana but the man

-designed a working ship

-found an experienced crew

-decided to run things differently and remain a kind gentleman, and then stuck to that despite all the negative feedback

-did a thousand things that would make the people back home faint

-completely changed his life like a brave little bean even though it was an enormous risk and he's not exactly young anymore

-left his entire fortune even though anyone else in his social class/society would jump out a window if they lost their fortunes

-wacked an absolute ass on the head (despite what happened immediately after, that in itself is extraordinary)

-left himself get stabbed (the proper way, what's a liver for anyway)

-almost murdered a man at an art showing

[zenayeeda]

So while Stede was gone dealing with his deep guilt over leaving his wife and kids and having a huge powerful moment of growth and self actualization, the crew just devolved without him at the first sign of trouble and Ed had an intense dramatic breakdown.

It's so sweet how much of an impact he made on everyone and how they all need him. Nobody EVER needed him before. Found family, no matter how cannibalistic, is just, mwa!, gorgeous.

Stede on the island: ok children, no no, no biting, no stabbing, sit in a circle now, hold hands, and we'll sort things out. Now what's all the cannibalism business?

The crew: Papa! You're back! What's for lunch?

Stede: When did you last eat?

The crew: Breakfast.

Stede: ...

The crew: In all fairness it was a light breakfast.

Meanwhile Ed, ugly-crying while gouging someone's eye out: did those two weeks we knew each other mean nothing Stede?!

[zenayeeda]

I needed to lie down after Stede's 2nd 'death'. Dear lord.

[zenayeeda]

I can't get over the crew trying to understand Jim. With full sincerity "are you a mermaid?" Idiots. But they actually asked about what to call them and weren't like 'oh well your a lady so we won't work beside you.' On any other ship this reveal would be dangerous for Jim, but these dorks just asked questions and moved on. They weren't trying to be assholes, they were truly confused, but not hateful. That's why I love them.

Hopefully they get to do that ridiculous performance they had planned before everything went tits up.

[zenayeeda]

My partner said about the falling in love fast and moving in together bit (Ed and Stede as co-captains of Stede's ship) "how very lesbian of them."

[zenayeeda]

As a Russian I have one thing to say: fuck Putin. Go to hell and stay there pig

[zenayeeda]

Ed's little expressions, the staring at Stede as the aristocrat's boat burned in the background, the shock when Stede makes a pocket square thingie, like he's never been treated and complimented like that before. Poor thing. The way he opened up to Stede like five seconds after meeting him (when Stede was finally conscious), told him about his dissatisfaction, cried in front of him, talked about the cracken. I mean he went from delightfully charmed/entertained to fully in love in like an actual second.

How much time did this season cover, a month? A few weeks? Oof. He fell haaaarrrd.

Friends to lovers 10x speed, no slow burn.

My little queer heart was doing a hearty slow clap, then cheering, then TEARS.

[zenayeeda]

Kinda hoping Mary meets Ed sometime in the next season(s) and is like, huh, not what I expected. Won't happen, but can you imagine? Someone write this please!

[zenayeeda]

Like one of the best things in ofmd is the way Stede runs his ship. He teaches the crew to talk about their feelings (like a kindergarten teacher), he doesn't hit them and abuse them verbally, he teaches them about theatre and to express their talents. Of course they went from 'should we kill him?' to 'that strange little man is to be protected!' They all had hard lives, not surprising they were confused about having an uncool dandy as their leader. Especially with all the stories of Blackbeard, like Stede was the embarrassing dad in comparison. At the end of the season they all got into a real pickle (no spoilers) but I'm hoping this makes the crew appreciate Stede all the more in season 2.