Book meme

May. 6th, 2026 12:03 pm
china_shop: Slightly grungy pic of Han Woo Tak reading. (Kdrama - Woo Tak reading)
[personal profile] china_shop
#mybooks meme via [personal profile] maevedarcy, adapted by me to suit myself.

This week I'm reading: The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold, read by Grover Gardner; Refuse to Be Done by Matt Bell; and a bunch of Kdrama subtitles... ;-p

My favorite book of all time is: What kind of question is this? Completely impossible! I can't even name a favourite author.

My current favorite book (read or re-read in the last 3 months) is
:

Since February, I've read a bunch of new-to-me Bujold in audio, narrated by Grover Gardner (from the Vorkosigan and Penric series), some Courtney Milan in ebook (Wedgeford series), The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman (hardback from the library), The Hymn to Dionysus by Natasha Pulley in audio, narrated by Sid Sagar, Refuse to Be Done by Matt Bell in ebook, Good old-fashioned Korean spirit by Kim Hyun Sook (paperback from the library), and half of Siren Queen by Nigh Vo in audio, narrated by Natalie Naudus.

Of those, my favourite was The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman, mostly because I chose it fairly randomly, and it was delightful, enjoyable, thoughtful, and unexpected. (I love random library finds!) Runner up goes to The Hymn to Dionysus (thanks to [personal profile] profiterole_reads for the rec).

If we went back another six or eight weeks, it would be Swordcrossed by Freya Marske (secondary-world high-society m/m, with guilds).

The last book I bought was
: The Earl Who Isn't by Courtney Milan, in ebook.

The first book I bought with my own money was: LOL, no idea. At all.

The first book I received as a gift was: We're talking 50+ years ago. I do remember having an older (20-something?) penpal who would send me books when I was in my early-teens. In particular, she sent me I Am David and The Hobbit.

The last book I received as a gift was: Siren Queen by Nghi Vo, in audio.

The last book I borrowed from the library was: Hine Toa: a story of bravery by Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku. I only read the prologue before I had to return it. /o\

The book physically closest to me right now is: assuming ebooks don't count, it's Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals from Around the World, edited by Robyn Ochs and Sarah E. Rowley, which is at this end of the bookshelf behind me, in the queer section natch.

This or that:

Physical book, e-book, or audio: ebook or audio, depending on the book, the narrator, and my mood.
Used, new, or fell off the back of the internet: Any.
Fiction or non-fiction: Mostly fiction, but I go through NF phases.
Read at a coffee shop or at the park: In ebook, mostly on the couch at home or while I'm stretching after exercise; in audio, while I'm doing dishes, stretching after exercise, walking, folding dumplings, etc.
Paperback or hardcover: physical books can be pretty hard on my hands/wrists/arms/neck, so if I'm reading in hard copy, anything that will lie flat on its own.
Romance or Crime: Romance.

Yes or no:
Literary fiction?
Sure.
Sci-fi/fantasy? Yes, please.
Poetry? Not as much as I used to, but sure.
Memoirs? I'm not opposed to them, but rarely pick them out.
Philosophy? Yep. Also, science and pop psych.
Thrillers? Only if there's another aspect to draw me in.
Chronicles? I don't know what this is.
Travel logs? No.
Dialogue heavy?
Sure.

Also, I thought I'd add a note on what makes me try a book:

I have a google doc of recs from offline friends and my reading page; I'm definitely influenced by recs. There are some authors and audiobook narrators that will lure me in. I am predisposed towards SF/F and romance, often in combination. I enjoy narrations with a sense of humour and queer rep, and I will generally try Korean books in translation, if I encounter them. As mentioned above, I love browsing the library, semi-randomly choosing a book, and discovering something unexpected and great. But I don't do it very often, because hard copy...

State of the blahs

May. 5th, 2026 08:19 pm
oursin: Grumpy looking hedgehog (grumpy hedgehog)
[personal profile] oursin

Have not been sleeping terribly well lately, thus the blahs.

Not sure why this is, because it is not lower back kicking up etc (yay physio) but more that annoying thing of Morpheus seeming very skittish.

Possibly the whole life-admin stuff that going on at the moment? (2nd appt with our Person of Law next week, also appt to Register Our Intentions.)

Perchance the Even Tenor of Our Ways is just a leeetle disturbed.

Still, am doing my best to pull together Something Entertaining and Instructive on Condoms and related matters, which is largely remixing stuff which I do already have, but not entirely.

Am a bit annoyed that I was informed that I could anticipate proofs of a review today but so far no can haz, would have liked to get that out of the way.

kingstoken: (Brave)
[personal profile] kingstoken posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairings/Characters: Twelve/Missy (but also Doctor/Master generally)
Rating: Not Rated
Length: 121,404 words
Creator Links: yonderdarling
Theme: Journey & Travel, getting back together 

Summary: "He's sitting in a cafe in Vichy France (he was aiming for 2042) and waiting for his lunch when Missy plops down in the chair opposite him." This is an idea they've had before, it's just the first time they've both been able to consider it. The Doctor and Missy try travelling together.

Reccer's Notes: After Twelve loses Clara, Twelve and Missy try travelling together through space and time. Reading Missy and Twelve together in the TARDIS is a delight.  However, the fic digs into the complicated nature of their relationship, gives them a rather tragic backstory, and focuses how they deal with things as they start falling into a romantic relationship and the consequences of that.  

Fanwork Links: AO3

For anyone who read The Hecubiad

May. 5th, 2026 01:34 pm
twistedchick: watercolor painting of coffee cup on wood table (Default)
[personal profile] twistedchick
There's a new movie on The Odyssey coming out on July 17. This link has the cast list and a preview.

I can't say for sure, but I have a hunch Christopher Nolan may be doing much of it right. Anne Hathaway is Penelope, Tom Holland is Telemachos. I have minor arguments about Nolan's choice for Odysseus, Matt Damon, but with that beard he looks less Irish, and he does have the build to carry it off. Robert Pattinson looks like a thug as the head suitor. Zendaya as Athene. Charlise Theron as Calypso. And that's not even a third of the cast list.

The one thing I'm withholding judgment on, and hoping against hope that Nolan et al get right, is Penelope. She is the queen of Ithaka, in a misogynistic environment, but historically (or literally, from the literature) she was born and raised in Sparta, where the girls learn to carry weapons and fight with the boys, and are raised as equals to the men. Helen of Sparta was probably a cousin. I hope they bring out her ability to resist (and not just by weaving a cobweb shroud for her father-in-law who isn't dead). She isn't a doormat; she is an armed fortress.

For this, I'll go back to a theater. ETA: I am pretty sure Hecuba isn't in it, however.

Season of Drabbles fics

May. 5th, 2026 09:05 am
sholio: closeup violin with the words 'private accomplishments' (Biggles-violin)
[personal profile] sholio
Season of Drabbles is revealed! I wrote 5 things, and enjoyed being super sneaky about at least a couple of them for a change.

As Sholio:

Orchestral (Biggles, 200 wds)
Biggles/EvS on a music-related "date."

Time and Tide (Star Trek TOS, 700 wds, Spock/McCoy [sort of])
I was hunting around for other people to treat, saw this person mention time loops among their interests, and realized it would be really interesting to try writing a drabble sequence in which each drabble was an iteration of the time loop.

(This was also one of the ones I mentioned that was a fandom I've never written before. Particularly neat in this case since this is far and away one of my oldest "fandoms" - I use that in quotes because I'm not sure if you can call it that when you're as young as I was when I first watched episodes on TV a very long time ago, but it's definitely something I've had feelings about since an early age.)

As AltSholio:

A New Normal (Agent Carter, 100 wds, Jack & Peggy)
My actual assignment, and I had fun with it! Just a bit of post-canon adjustment and banter.

Stay (Biggles, 100 wds, h/c)
H/C fluff for the win.

Second Contact (Project Hail Mary, 300 wds, Grace & Rocky & Adrian)
Grace meeting Adrian. This would be the other fandom I hadn't written before, and probably wouldn't have under my main because there's not likely to be any more of it, but I enjoyed writing this little treat!

Recent Bookmarks Rec Post

May. 5th, 2026 10:31 am
ravensilversea: A Lo-Fi version of me writing at desk and wearing headphones. Nightime cityscape and a tabby cat are visible in the background (Default)
[personal profile] ravensilversea posting in [community profile] recthething
It's monthly rec list time over on my journal! It's a short one this month with just 1 Far Cry 4 rec and 2 Batman recs

May. 5th, 2026 09:34 am
oursin: Brush the Wandering Hedgehog by the fire (Default)
[personal profile] oursin
Happy birthday, [personal profile] catvalente!
petra: CGI Anakin Skywalker, head and shoulders, looking rather amused. (Anakin - Trash fire Jesus)
[personal profile] petra
One must imagine Sisyphus horny (13133 words) by Petra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Star Wars - All Media Types
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Obi-Wan Kenobi/Anakin Skywalker, Minor or Background Relationship(s)
Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker
Additional Tags: Time Travelling Obi-Wan Kenobi, Time Loop, Canon Divergence - Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Bad Decisions, What Would Quinlan Vos Do?, Force Bond (Star Wars), Force Sex (Star Wars), Premature Ejaculation, Misdirection, Virgin Obi-Wan Kenobi
Summary:

The twentieth time through what has got to be the worst, and longest, day anyone has ever experienced without dying irrevocably, Obi-Wan wakes up on the Negotiator, checks the chrono to be positive of the date and swears a bloody streak, then comms Anakin. He has tried this day doing what he thought best, what he thought Yoda would think best, then Shaak, then Mace, then every other Jedi he's ever respected.

He has been putting off trying what he believes Quinlan's approach would be, or at least what Quinlan would counsel Obi-Wan to do, but the time has come.

heresluck: (book)
[personal profile] heresluck
Via [personal profile] sdwolfpup.

We Have Enough Dead Friends

Come over. The doors are open,
my flat’s a mess and
so is my heart
but the doors are always open.
Come over. I will make soup,
probably from frozen but
the important thing is
we will both eat.

You don’t have to be dying,
but if you are,
or you feel like you are,
or if living’s been hard,
call me, and I will show up.
It doesn’t have to be that bad,
it doesn’t have to be bad at all,
but if it is, please call.

Do you want me to do the groceries?
Do you want me to mop the floors?
Do you need to be held;
you don’t have to be dying to be held.
If you want me to be there, I want to.

I’m on the bathroom floor again,
and breathing is hard,
and eating’s been hard, and sleeping,
the world is a laden thing
rolling around on my chest lately.
Just being alive is heavy tonight,
but we have enough dead friends.
Come over.


— Lena Oleanderson
from Tending

And then I fell off my chair

May. 4th, 2026 08:56 pm
petra: Carrie Fisher dipping Mark Hamill circa 1977 (Carrie F & Mark H - Dancing)
[personal profile] petra
Okay, not literally, but the comic in this May the Fourth be with You tumblr post is absolutely killing me.

I'm saving the art because I would be so, so sad if I were to lose it, but please go let the artist know if it amuses you anything like as much as it tickles me.

Image descriptions )

Images saved on Dreamwidth, lest Tumblr cease to be )

And yes, I did have to use this icon for this post.

Daily Happiness

May. 4th, 2026 05:04 pm
torachan: (Default)
[personal profile] torachan
1. Yesterday I was feeling majorly stressed out by multiple things, but today I'm feeling much better.

2. One thing was this whole pee issue with Jasper. long )

3. I have also been majorly stressed about work recently. Well, it's actually been for several years, but I'm feeling it more and more, not necessarily because things are more stressful but just because of the buildup, and the whole world in general is adding so much stress as well. I'd been thinking more and more seriously about what I want to do when this project I'm working on ends. I don't think I want to go back to area manager as that is a pretty stressful position, especially now that the economy is not great and the stores are struggling. I would also like to be closer to home, so I've been thinking about stepping down to a department leader position at the store closest to me.

also long )

So just making that decision, even if it doesn't change anything right now, has made me less stressed out.

4. Molly was writhing around with that toy just moments before I took the pic.

sunnymodffa: Crab Nebula version of the Starbucks logo (crab nebula Starbucks)
[personal profile] sunnymodffa posting in [community profile] fail_fandomanon
 
not the cruel slop of prison gruel seasoned with the unshed tears of endangered species,

a third thing, the slop of memory, of abject creativity imbued with the magic fragrance of artisanal, single source roasted coffee beans and the flickering of florescent lights and the cacophony of the way busy baristas bustle around silent patrons with soulful eyes glued to their laptops, silence and commotion linked together like the brain waves of a fic writer coexisting with writer's block.

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senmut: Classic Star Wars title shot in black and white (Star Wars: Title)
[personal profile] senmut
AO3 Link | Do It Again? (100 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars Original Trilogy, Star Wars: Thrawn Trilogy
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa
Additional Tags: Drabble
Summary:

Leia asks a question.






"Would you follow him again?" Leia asked as she watched Luke working on a servo for Artoo. Luke paused, looking up at the woman he'd been infatuated with by a clip of a recording, one that he now knew was his very own twin.

He thought about all the ups and downs they had seen, the fall of the Emperor, the more shadowy war against Thrawn's Imperial Remnant, and he smiled brightly.

"Over and over again, Leia. That little adventure might have had a lot of tragedy for all of us, but… we're here, we're family, and we are together."

it's not fun

May. 4th, 2026 06:00 pm
musesfool: you don't even need all ten fingers! (it ain't rocket science)
[personal profile] musesfool
dear co-workers,

there is no need to text or call after 5 pm to schedule a meeting that is two weeks away (I already sent you my boss's availability and am holding those times, which I told you) or ask to be emailed some documents that 1. you should already have by nature of your position, and 2. you don't need to look at until tomorrow anyway. nothing is on fire! there is absolutely no reason this could not have waited until tomorrow.

no love,

me

*
torachan: arale from dr slump dressed in a penguin suit and smiling (arale penguin)
[personal profile] torachan
USJ has a 1.5 day pass, which seemed like the right fit for us. Honestly, I think the single day would have been fine, too, but this let us have the first afternoon to sort of scope out the park and get the lay of the land so we could navigate better on the next day. If we go again, I'd just do the single day, since we're now familiar with the layout.

Exploring the park )
[personal profile] zorbo_jorks posting in [community profile] fancake
Fandom: Gorillaz (Virtual Band)
Pairings/Characters: Murdoc Niccals/Stuart "2D" Pot, Various OCs, Hannibal Niccals, Noodle, Russel Hobbs
Rating: Explicit
Length: 298,396 words (26 Chapters)
Creator Links: https://archiveofourown.org/users/sonatas/pseuds/sonatas
Theme: journey & travel

Summary: When a phone call informing him of his father’s death sends him on an unexpected and unwanted trip back to his childhood home, Murdoc finds himself confronted with more questions about his origins than he ever could have anticipated. Who knew a couple of shoe boxes, left to gather dust in his father’s closet, could contain such heart-wrenching secrets. And why is 2D so invested? Post-canon. 2Doc.

Reccer's Notes: I have just recently started peeking into this fandom, and did not realize that this is one of the Big Fics for the pairing until after I finished it, but it's so earned! The story pulled me along the whole way: imagine a world-wide road trip where every party is kind of miserable, and there are occult curses and ghosts chasing them the whole time! Great world-building and mystery elements too, and pique character work and dramatic tension!
There is a lot of fanart embedded throughout, as well, which is such a treat!

Content Notes: violence & injury, drug abuse, addiction, and grief, and past child abuse, CSA and adult SA

Fanwork Links: https://archiveofourown.org/works/11767422/chapters/26527818

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